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

Seven days later, the snow cleared and the sky brightened.

On the distant horizon, the outline of a city appeared.

The city walls are tall, and the words "Wuji" are inscribed on the city gate.

"Brother, we've arrived," Zhao Yun reported.

Ji Xuanyuan lifted the curtain and looked out.

Wuji County was more prosperous than Zhuojun, with a constant stream of caravans. The guards at the city gates were very strict in checking the passing merchants, but they dared not question Ji Xuanyuan and his group of "government troops" who were dressed in bright armor.

"Zilong, go and find out the location of the Zhen residence first. Then present my visiting card and say that Ji Xuanyuan, the Prefect of Zhuojun, has a big business deal and would like to discuss it with Lord Zhen in person," Ji Xuanyuan instructed.

"promise!"

The carriage drove into the city.

Shops lined both sides of the street, including silk shops, grain stores, taverns, and pawnshops, all doing brisk business.

Compared to the desolation outside the city, it was like two completely different worlds.

Dian Wei muttered to himself, "The Zhen family... really knows how to pick a location."

With its vermilion gates and high walls, majestic stone lions, and the gilded characters "Zhen Mansion" above the gate, it may lack the imposing atmosphere of an official's residence, but it exudes an air of wealth and prestige.

The servants who came and went were all neatly dressed and behaved with propriety. Even the gatekeepers had shrewd eyes. This was the demeanor that only wealthy merchants could cultivate over the years.

When Ji Xuanyuan's carriage stopped in front of the mansion, a steward quickly came to greet him.

The name card was handed in, and the central gate was suddenly opened in a flash.

A middle-aged man, around thirty years old, with a lean face and wearing a brocade robe, strode out, followed by several stewards.

This person is none other than Zhen Yi, the current head of the Zhen family.

His gaze fell on Ji Xuanyuan, who had just stepped down from the carriage, and he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

It was after the snow had cleared, and the sunlight shone on Ji Xuanyuan's white fox fur coat, making his peerless face even more breathtaking. His eyebrows were like distant mountains, his eyes like cold stars, his nose like a hanging gall, and his lips were as pale as cherry petals.

Although his face was pale and his frail appearance was hard to hide, his extraordinary demeanor left the worldly-wise Zhen Yi speechless for a moment.

"Such a person exists in this world?!"

Zhen Yi was deeply shaken. He quickly composed himself, cupped his hands, and smiled, "Is this General Ji Wenlie? I have long admired your name. It is an honor to meet you today!"

"You're too kind, Lord Zhen," Ji Xuanyuan returned the greeting, his voice clear and melodious.

"I apologize for disturbing you, Xuanyuan."

Zhen Yi repeatedly said he dared not, his gaze already shifting to the three people behind Ji Xuanyuan.

The general on the left, dressed in white robes and wielding a silver spear, with a face as handsome as jade and exuding heroic spirit, should be Zhao Yun, Zhao Zilong, who slew Cheng Yuanzhi and Zhang Rao in battle.

Zhen Yi nodded slightly. The young hero truly lived up to his reputation.

On the right stands a giant, broad-shouldered and burly man with a full beard, carrying two halberds and large, bell-like eyes.

Zhen Yi felt a chill run down his spine; what a formidable general!

However, when his gaze fell on the boy in the center, his pupils contracted slightly.

The boy was about sixteen or seventeen years old, nearly nine feet tall, with double pupils and a striking appearance. He held a long, jet-black halberd in his hand. Although he stood silently, he exuded an aura of dominance that looked down upon the world.

Zhen Yi had been a businessman for many years, traveling all over the country and meeting countless dukes, marquises and generals, but he had never felt such a strong "noble air" from anyone.

It was not the majesty brought by power and position, but a nobility that seemed innate and ingrained in one's very bones.

"Extremely precious..." These four words flashed through Zhen Yi's mind, and his smile widened.

"Please come in, everyone!"

Upon entering the main hall, one is greeted by an extremely luxurious furnishing.

A rosewood table, a Shu brocade cushion, and a bronze beast incense burner at each corner emitting wisps of smoke, filling the air with the fragrance of rare sandalwood.

Beautiful maids had already served hot tea, and the teacups were all made of Yue kiln celadon, as thin as cicada wings.

Zhen Yi ordered a banquet to be held and also instructed people to make proper arrangements for the fifty personal guards who accompanied him, showing the utmost courtesy.

During the pleasantries, Zhen Yi's gaze kept glancing at the bulging burlap sack in Dian Wei's hand. Ever since he entered the room, the giant had been clutching it tightly, never letting it out of his sight.

Zhen Yi knew perfectly well: Ji Xuanyuan wouldn't come here without a reason; it must be related to the contents of the bag.

After several rounds of drinks, Ji Xuanyuan slowly spoke: "Lord Zhen, I have come here today with a business matter I would like to discuss with you."

coming.

Zhen Yi's smile remained unchanged: "Oh? General Ji, please speak freely."

Ji Xuanyuan gestured to Dian Wei.

Dian Wei stepped forward, placed the bag on the table, and untied the rope.

Zhen Yi peeked inside and saw that the bag contained something as white as snow and as clear as sand, which, under the candlelight in the hall, faintly shimmered with a pearly luster.

"This is..." Zhen Yi picked up a small pinch; it felt smooth and without any impurities.

He hesitated for a moment, then put it in his mouth, and his eyes widened immediately!

salty!

Purely salty!

It has none of the bitterness of ordinary table salt!

The saltiness melted on the tip of the tongue, leaving a strangely sweet aftertaste.

"Salt?!" Zhen Yi exclaimed.

"This...this is salt?!"

"Exactly." Ji Xuanyuan smiled.

"This snow salt is absolutely pure; I wonder if Lord Zhen... would you accept it?"

Zhen Yi took a deep breath, suppressing the shock in his heart. He had been a businessman for half his life and had seen all kinds of rare and precious things.

Pearls of the East China Sea, jade from the Western Regions, brocade from Sichuan... but this salt before him was completely beyond his comprehension.

In today's world, the best salt is the salt from Hedong Pond, which is bluish-white and considered top-grade. Inferior well salt and sea salt are grayish-yellow and have a bitter taste.

But this salt before me... is as white as snow, pure and flawless, with a pure taste!

This is revolutionary!

"Take it!" Zhen Yi said almost without thinking.

"We'll take as many as you have!"

As soon as the words left his mouth, he realized his rudeness and quickly chuckled awkwardly, "But... I wonder where General Ji got this salt? What is the production volume? And how much is it priced?"

Negotiations have begun.

Ji Xuanyuan was prepared and calmly said, "I'm afraid I can't tell you the source of the salt. As for the output... we can currently produce 100 shi per month, and it will gradually increase in the future. As for the price..." He looked at Zhen Yi.

"Master Zhen is an expert; why don't you name a price?"

Zhen Yi pondered.

He quickly calculated in his mind: with the war raging, the price of salt has skyrocketed. Ordinary coarse salt has already reached eight thousand coins per shi (a unit of dry measure), and this kind of snow salt is unheard of. If handled properly, it could be sold to powerful and wealthy families for thirty thousand coins per shi...

"Ten thousand coins per shi," Zhen Yi tentatively asked.

Ji Xuanyuan smiled but remained silent.

"Twelve thousand coins?"

"Lord Zhen,"

Ji Xuanyuan slowly said, "You know better than I do the wonders of this salt, and you should know what price it can fetch. Fifteen thousand coins per shi, that's the price for Lord Zhen."

"Fifteen thousand coins?" Zhen Yi gasped. That was nearly double the price of salt during wartime!

What a huge appetite!

But he had to admit that Ji Xuanyuan was right.

Once this snow salt is released, it will surely attract fierce competition from powerful families.

Let alone 15,000 coins, even if it were sold for double the price, there would still be plenty of buyers.

Those nobles and high-ranking officials, who valued their reputation above all else, used such snow salt to entertain guests as a symbol of their status...

But agreeing so readily would be too much of a loss. Zhen Yi's eyes darted around: "The price is negotiable, but... if General Ji can provide the method for salt production, my Zhen family is willing to offer a thousand taels of gold to purchase it!"

This is a test of the bottom line.

Ji Xuanyuan shook his head: "The production method is the foundation of our business, and I cannot concede to it. Lord Zhen, let's cooperate. You will be responsible for sales, transportation, and handling the connections, while I will be responsible for supplying the goods. As for the profits... you get four, and I get six."

"46?" Zhen Yi frowned.

"General Ji, selling, transporting, and bribing—all of these cost money! And we also have to bear the risk of smuggling salt! What do you say, fifty-five?"

"Risks are shared, and profits should naturally be divided. The manufacturing method and the source of goods are my own, this is fundamental. June 4th is already a sincere gesture."

Zhen Yi remained silent.

He stared at Ji Xuanyuan's pale yet resolute face, weighing his options in his mind.

Although this person is young and sickly, he has a sharp eye and never gives an inch.

More importantly, he was an official, the Prefect of Zhuojun who held military power, and Ji Wenlie, who repeatedly defeated the Yellow Turbans and became famous throughout the land.

Although the Zhen family is wealthy, they are ultimately merchants. If things really come to a head...

"That's enough." Zhen Yi sighed.

"As you say, General, we will split the salt 60/40, at 15,000 coins per shi. But there is one condition: the salt must be exclusively supplied to my Zhen family and cannot be sold to anyone else."

"Alright." Ji Xuanyuan nodded.

"But Lord Zhen also needs to ensure that he purchases at least eighty shi (a unit of dry measure) per month."

"It's a deal!"

The two swore an oath by high five, ordered someone to bring silk, wrote down the contract on the spot, and signed and sealed it.

The banquet resumed, but the atmosphere was much more subtle.

Zhen Yi smiled as he offered the toast, but his heart was bleeding.

Buying goods for 15,000 yuan and having to give away 60% of the profits, even though I know it's still a huge profit, I still feel like I'm being manipulated by this young man.

His gaze swept across the hall, finally settling on Zhao Yun.

This young general in white robes sat upright from the moment he took his seat, his eyes fixed straight ahead, exuding both heroic spirit and composure.

What's even more remarkable is that, at such a young age, he had already defeated Cheng Yuanzhi and Zhang Rao, gaining fame throughout the land... Such a figure, if one could win him over...

Zhen Yi's mind raced, and he suddenly smiled, "Talking so much about business has neglected the generals. General Ji, is this General Zilong, who killed Cheng Yuanzhi and Zhang Rao in battle?"

Zhao Yun clasped his hands in a fist and said, "It is indeed Zhao Yun."

"Truly, heroes emerge from among the young!"

Zhen Yi praised, then casually asked, "May I ask General Zhao... how old are you? Are you married?"

The hall was quiet.

Ji Xuanyuan paused slightly in his teacup and looked up at Zhen Yi.

A glint of light flashed in Xiang Yu's double pupils, while Dian Wei scratched his head, puzzled.

Zhao Yun remained calm and said frankly, "I am fifteen years old and unmarried."

"Fifteen..." Zhen Yi's smile deepened.