Chapter 30: The Grand Deal

Seeing the eager enthusiasm of the gentry from Dongming and Puyang, Zhu Cilang burst into laughter, quickly offering them reassurance. "Very good, very good. I am truly grateful to see such grand support from the gentry of Dongming and Puyang. This matter is etched firmly in my heart! Ah... just now I suddenly remembered. Some time ago, I ordered the establishment of training camps in both Puyang and Dongming to train troops and replenish the army. Naturally, I will take full responsibility for the bandit troubles in these two regions!"

Upon hearing this, Li Wenlin and Sun Rufei both welled up with tears... thankfully, Zhu Cilang was finally satisfied. Their efforts were being rewarded.

However, while Zhu Cilang and the gentry of these two places were so enthusiastic, another place was conspicuously cold.

The merchants of Linqing remained silent and unmoved. Evidently... they were not ready to accept their fate.

After all, Puyang and Dongming were on the front lines facing the bandit forces directly. Although Shandong had experienced military troubles before, they had quickly been pacified. Linqing was a prosperous and peaceful city; these merchants who traveled the canals were not seeking Zhu Cilang’s protection for peace. Thus, even though they knew they were being lined up as fat sheep to be sheared, they had no intention of surrendering.

With the merchants unwilling to speak first, Zhu Cilang naturally would not soften his stance either.

For a moment, the atmosphere froze, plunging the room into a dreadful silence.

Just as Zhu Cilang was about to make a move, suddenly a voice rang out from the crowd: "My lord! The official army has rescued the people of Kaifeng. Such a grand event moves me deeply. I am willing to donate three thousand taels to support the army!"

A rustle swept through the merchants.

They all glared angrily in that direction—someone had betrayed them!

The speaker was a broad-shouldered merchant with thick eyebrows and sharp eyes. On closer look, it was Wang Yi, a man known for his sharp insight and decisive methods.

Zhu Cilang’s eyes lit up upon hearing this and he smiled, saying, "Good! What’s your name, and what business are you in? I will remember this today!"

The stout man’s eyes widened immediately, and he quickly ingratiated himself, "My lord, my name is Wang Yi, and I am a grain merchant."

"Excellent!" Zhu Cilang chuckled. "Then today I will offer you a good deal! The current market price for a shi of rice in Linqing is two taels. I will pay you three taels per shi. How much rice can you supply? I should mention beforehand, your fleet can fly the banner of the Grain Tax Office, allowing you to cross the Yellow River and the tax stations without paying customs duties. Along the way, my Shandong garrison navy will escort you, so you need not fear any bandits!"

As Zhu Cilang finished, the crowd erupted in murmurs. The merchants looked at him as if they did not recognize the man standing before them.

Wasn’t he just boasting about his position in the Grain Tax Office and his command of the Shandong garrison?

Wasn’t he just flexing his military might to coerce donations?

And now… he was talking about commerce?

Moreover… if he could buy rice at three taels per shi, no matter how it was calculated, this was an extremely profitable deal!

Previously, Linqing’s high cost of living had pushed prices to a frightening fifty-eight qian per dou of rice. But with summer crops arriving and autumn harvests approaching, the price had already dropped to about twenty qian per dou.

And that was retail price.

Wholesale, or purchasing directly from rural areas, could lower acquisition costs to well under one tael per shi. Plus, Zhu Cilang’s offer to use the Grain Tax Office’s banner effectively waived bureaucratic fees. Even accounting for other expenses en route, the profit margin was at least double!

On top of that, with the Shandong garrison navy escorting shipments, there was no need to worry about river bandits.

Such generous profit margins and secure backing—this was a golden opportunity dropped from the heavens!

Wang Yi’s breath quickened at the thought. Struggling to keep his composure, he nervously asked a question that caught everyone’s attention: "My lord… will payment be made in cash upon delivery?"

"Well..." Zhu Cilang drew out the words, smiling at Wang Yi. Just as Wang Yi was about to lose his nerve, Zhu Cilang continued, "Of course, payment is in cash. A ten percent deposit will be paid upfront, and the rest in full upon delivery. However, the military treasury also holds some other valuables—gold, silver, jade, and pearls—that can be traded at a fair price. What do you think?"

"Yes, yes..." Wang Yi suddenly understood. Zhu Cilang was fencing the spoils!

They had learned on the ship about Zhu Cilang’s recent victory in Dongming, where he defeated two rebel generals with nearly ten thousand troops under their command. Such a great victory naturally yielded an impressive haul.

Furthermore, Zhu Cilang maintained strict military discipline—soldiers did not pilfer loot privately. Hence, Zhu Cilang had netted a huge sum, including most of Li Yan and Red Lady’s savings.

However, such spoils were tricky to handle. The court would keep accounts, and spending them was complicated.

The former was no concern for Zhu Cilang, given his standing. But the latter was troublesome. Besides gold and silver, there were many properties, deeds, and antiques—items difficult to fence.

Zhu Cilang lacked neither wealth nor resources; what he lacked was time and energy.

But would Wang Yi care about that?

A guaranteed hundred percent profit would be enough to make him sell the noose to hang himself.

"I can supply thirty thousand shi of rice!" Wang Yi declared, eyes gleaming as he fixed Zhu Cilang with a steady gaze.

"Good!" Zhu Cilang nodded. "Bring him forward to pay the deposit and sign the contract."

Afterward, Zhu Cilang looked at the remaining merchants and said, "How about it? There are many military supply orders waiting. Anyone interested? As for rice, I can take as much as you can provide! Just… the price will be a bit lower than just now."

"I am willing to supply..."

"I wish to enlist, my lord, please accept me..."

"Long live the Great Ming! I am willing to supply your military needs, goods cheap and quality good..."

As Zhu Cilang spoke, the previously silent Linqing merchants suddenly erupted into excitement.

With Zhu Cilang’s banner, multiple layers of customs duties could be avoided, and with the Shandong garrison navy escort, security costs vanished. Such a deal was hard to find anywhere else.

Just these two factors alone could halve costs!

Moreover, judging from Zhu Cilang’s generosity, military supply prices were quite profitable!

"Hmm... There is a deal for ten thousand jin of pig iron—who will take it?"

"My lord, I am willing to take it! I will buy ten thousand jin of pig iron at market price, no markup!"

"I will offer a discount!"

"What? Liu, you traitor! My lord... my merchant guild is also willing to lower prices!"

"My lord, I can decide now—I will not only lower prices but also donate military supplies!"

…(To be continued.)