Chapter 287: The Masked Man Outside Duke of Liu’s Residence (1/2)
Chapter 287: The Masked Man Outside Duke of Liu’s Residence
”Impossible!” Arloja and Ablonodan exclaimed at the same time. Perhaps they thought that their reactions were too excessive, so Arloja quickly explained. ”Gongzi, it's not that we aren't willing to sell it to you, but we wouldn't be able to mine so much Hyderabad ore even over the course of an entire year!”
Hyderabad ore was exceptionally tough, and it was also located in treacherous terrain, thus making mining operations extremely difficult. Not to mention, the Hyderabad ore was only found in a specific location as well.
Even if they were to gather all of the Hyderabad ores they mined in a single year together, it wouldn't add up to 5000 jun.
”What is the current production limit of the Hyderabad ores then?” Wang Chong asked with a smile as he placed his hands behind his back. Naturally, he also knew that it was impossible for so much Hyderabad ore to be produced within a year.
He was only making use of this to uncover the true production capacity of the Hyderabad ore so that he could gauge the proportion he had to take down.
”3000 jun! This is the current highest projected estimation of our annual production. If we want to produce 5000 jun every year, we would have to expand our manpower and expand our scale of production.” Arloja replied earnestly.
”Then why don't you expand the scale of production? Given how lucrative the Hyderabad ores are, surely your High Priest would have thought of expanding the mining operations?” Wang Chong asked.
”We do have such plans, but the results will only surface next year. We won't be able to supply you so much this year,” Arloja replied seriously.
A thousand gold taels for one jun was truly an enticing deal. Without a doubt, it would be highly beneficial to Sindhu if they could take this deal. However, the problem lay in Wang Chong's excessively high demand. Sindhu couldn't possibly take out 5000 jun currently.
”Then a thousand jun should be fine, right?” Wang Chong asked with a smile. This was his true goal.
If Wang Chong was just negotiating with these two monks, there would be no need for him to go through such a huge number just to conclude at this.
However, these two monks were currently serving as the High Priest's eyes and ears—in truth, Wang Chong was indirectly negotiating with the Sindhi High Priest. Since that was the case, he would have to resort to some trickery.
”This... it'll be difficult, but it should be possible.” Arloja fell silent for a long moment before eventually nodding in agreement.
”However, it'll take at least two months for the deal to be completed. That should be sufficient time for you to gather sufficient money to purchase 1000 jun.”
Having just came from Sindhi, the two of them were extremely familiar with the situation regarding the Wootz steel. In truth, the 1000 jun that Wang Chong demanded was the limit as to what Sindhu could provide this year. After selling this sum, they wouldn't have any inventory left, and this was including the production from the few remaining months of the year.
”... But I'll still have to emphasize that I don't have the right to make the decision for this matter. It has to be approved by our High Priest himself,” Arloja repeated himself.
”Of course! Masters, please tell your High Priest that as long as Sindhu agrees to my terms, I can pay the one million gold taels immediately!” Wang Chong threw out his last bomb.
Under a great reward surely stands a brave soul!
---
A while later, Arloja and Ablonodan walked out of the gates of the Wang Clan with slightly dazed expressions. Seeing the lingering astonishment on their faces, Wang Chong smiled in contentment.
A million gold taels!
That was a sum more than tenfold greater than the previous deal. 90,000 gold taels was already sufficient to alleviate the situation in Sindhi significantly, they could hardly imagine what one million gold taels would spell for the starving Sindhis.
Grasping their mentalities tightly in his grip, Wang Chong knew that his bait would surely be irresistible to Sindhu.
Even if not for the welfare of Sindhu, Arloja and Ablonodan would surely try their best to convince the Sindhi High Priest to accept the deal.
”Gongzi, is it really worth doing so? A million gold taels isn't a small sum!” Old Eagle uttered as he looked at the departing backs of the two monks.
Since he had decided to follow Wang Chong and the Wang Clan, he required a certain degree of understanding of the Wang Clan to operate. Thus, he was also informed about the matter regarding the Hyderabad ore.
However, one million gold taels was truly too much.
”Gold is nothing more than another form of metal. Soon, you'll understand this.” Wang Chong smiled mysteriously.
The fortress at the Lion Rock Hill was being supervised by Zhang Shouzhi; the problem regarding the food supply was settled by Zhang Munian in Jiaozhi, and Li Zhuxin was currently protecting him; Zhang Wentuo would be under the watch of Solitary Wolf; last, but not least, regarding the Sindhi High Priest... even though Wang Chong had never met the latter, he didn't think that the latter could resist the temptation of the huge fortune of one million gold taels.
Currently, the Abbasid Caliphate and Charax Spasinu had yet to master the art of forging Wootz steel, so they wouldn't see much value in procuring Hyderabad ore.
Everything was on track.
Wang Chong had finally achieved what he had thought to be impossible and failed to accomplish in his previous life. When everything was settled, he would return to Kunwu Training Camp and devote his time back to his martial arts.
Now, only one last matter remains! …, Wang Chong thought as a figure flashed across his head.
There were two main goals he had sought to achieve in the capital this time around. One was to meet the Southern Protector-General Zhangchou Jianqiong and his commanders, and the other was to investigate the background of a certain person.
It was inconvenient for him to do so back at Kunwu Training Camp, but by tapping into the influence of the Wang Clan, it shouldn't be too difficult for him to uncover something.