"I see."
Li Shi Min thought to himself, I thought you had seen through my thoughts at that moment. I'll directly kill you and take the salt refining method back to the imperial court.
This was just a possibility that he thought about. He didn't really want to kill Si Chen.
A basket of eggs and a hen that kept laying eggs, which could create more value, he could still tell. Si Chen was the first chess piece he chose to deal with the five surnames and seven Wangs.
The Five Surnames and Seven Wangs were the malignant tumors that could threaten his imperial power.
Compared to the stability of the imperial power, some economic benefits were nothing.
"Brother Si, what are you talking about?”Li Shimin laughed and sat down." I was just thinking about how to run this business. Now that he had a rough idea, he just didn't know how much Brother Si wanted.”
Si Chen said without blinking,"I provided the technology to purify the saltpeter. It should be at least 50%, right?"”
Ask for an exorbitant price and pay back the money on the ground.
Si Chen didn't know how business worked in ancient times, so he casually gave a price and asked the other party to quote first. In order to hide his guilt, he picked up his glass and drank calmly.
"No, Brother Si can only take 10% at most." Li Shimin shook his head.”
Si Chen spat a mouthful of wine on Li Shimin's face."F * ck, Brother Li, aren't you too evil?”
"I've worked so hard and can only take 10%, and you're taking 90%?”
Li Shiming felt the thick liquor on his face, and the strong smell of alcohol. He wanted to slap the table and stand up. He wanted to lay his cards on the table. He was still the emperor!
Men, drag this person out and kill him!
But he couldn't.
The people of the Great Tang needed the technology to purify saltpeter! Moreover, the other party did not do it on purpose and did not know his identity.
Li Shi Min silently took out a silk handkerchief and wiped his face. He suppressed his anger and said,"Brother Si, listen to me carefully. To be able to easily extract such high-quality refined salt from saltpeter, coupled with my uncle's relationship, our business will naturally grow rapidly. However, this business was too big. It was not something that an individual could afford.”
"The imperial court will not allow a merchant to control the entire salt market. At that time, you and I might be involved in a lawsuit, our entire family will be confiscated, and all our assets will be nationalized.”
"Instead of ending up in such a situation, it's better to give the business to the country from the beginning and work together. With my uncle's relationship, we should be able to get 20% of the profits.”
"I still have to give a portion of the profits to uncle, so I said that brother Si can only take 10% at most. 10% salt profit. Based on the amount of salt produced in the entire country in a year, Brother Si was already a rich man in Chang 'an.”
Li Shiming laughed dryly. He was an emperor, and he was talking business with someone. What was this?
Si Chen thought about it carefully. It was like this. Once the salt-making business started, it would be difficult to avoid the imperial court. One person could not enjoy all the glory, or else there would be trouble. In the business of salt and iron, which was related to the lifeline of the country, it was better to keep a low profile.
The less he took, the safer he was.
"Ten percent then." Si Chen poured himself another glass of wine and took the initiative to pour a glass for Li Shiming. He said earnestly,"Brother Li, I've already agreed to such a harsh cut. You have to do this well!" Otherwise, even though you have great connections, this saber in my hand hates traitors the most.”
Si Chen's shortcoming was that he didn't know anything about business, so he could only use both kindness and intimidation to give Brother Li a warning.
"Don't worry, Brother Si. I will do my best to do this business well." Li Shi Min nodded.”
It was related to the problem of the people eating salt, so Li Er was naturally concerned.
"Alright then! Come, Brother Li, let's drink."
After that, the two of them ate and drank. They also asked the shop owner to buy a good pen and paper. Then, they drafted the first draft of the agreement in the private room and signed it with their fingerprints. Si Chen also wrote a copy of the purification process and the materials needed for the saltpeter to Li Shimin and asked him to go back and verify it.
Si Chen didn't need to hide the technique of purifying saltpeter. If the other party left him alone, he could write another one and work with the aristocratic families.
After eating and drinking to their hearts 'content, the two of them went down the restaurant. Si Chen put his arm around Li Shimin's shoulder and said,"Brother Li, I still have something to ask of you.”
Li Shimin was in a good mood after obtaining the technique for purifying saltpeter. He casually said,"If Brother Si has any requests, feel free to ask. I will definitely fulfill them for Brother Si.”
Li Shi Min wasn't boasting. The world was his, and he could do anything he wanted.
"Good brother!" Si Chen smiled in relief,"It's just a small matter." My small courtyard is really cramped. I'm about to become a rich man in Chang 'an. I want to buy a decent residence in Pingkang Lane. I wonder if Brother Li can help me?”
If you have money, why do you still live in a small shabby house? Change to a big House immediately!
Li Shi Min heard this. Simple!
Taking advantage of his drunken mood, he immediately said happily," No problem. Leave it to me. I'll find a good house for Brother Si within a month."”
"Thank you, Brother Li!" Si Chen cupped his hands and bowed. The word "within a month" flashed across his mind and he suddenly remembered something.
September ended, and it was October. Winter was coming.
The winter of the second year of Zhenguan and the upcoming third year of Zhenguan weren't that wonderful.
The snowstorm that was rarely seen in a hundred years and the locust plague that swept across dozens of provinces across the country would deal a heavy blow to the Tang Dynasty that was in dire straits!
(It was recorded in Zhenguan Political Affairs: "In the second year of Zhenguan, the capital suffered from drought and locusts.”This book adjusted the timeline and moved the locust plague to the second half of the third year of Zhenguan.）
Si Chen didn't want to be the savior and change history. He couldn't go up to the heavens and tell Li Er about what hadn't happened yet. He just had to take care of his stomach in the famine.
He had to store up food in advance, raise some pigs, fish, sheep, and chickens, and build a vegetable greenhouse to survive the three years of Zhenguan!
Thinking of this, Si Chen pulled Li Wang, who was about to get into the carriage and leave, and said with a smile,"Old Li, aren't you a man from Wugong County?”
Si Chen changed the way he addressed her.
Li Shimin was eager to return to the palace to test the purification of saltpeter, so he didn't think too much about it and casually said,"Of course there is a fief. Wugong County in the north of the city is my fief.”
"Old Li, you're doing quite well. You even have a fief!”Si Chen smiled and pulled Li Shiming down from the carriage." There's something you must help your brother with! Draw a mountain in Wugong County for my brother. It must be near the Wei River. Then, find the best craftsmen in Chang 'an and build a big house for my brother at the foot of the mountain. It's best to finish it by October.”
Li Shi Min was stunned." Brother Si wants to contract the mountain and build a mansion. What is the use of it?" This was not a small sum of money. He had to decide carefully.”
Si Chen waved his hand and said,"Don't worry about this. Just help your brother build it." As for the expenses, including the money to buy a house in the city, you have to pay for it first and then deduct it from my share. If one year is not enough, deduct two years. If two years are not enough, deduct three years…I won't go back on my word!”
Li Shimin was dumbfounded by her words.
God is deducting your share?
My salt business hasn't started yet.
I haven't even earned the money yet, and I've already lost two houses and a mountain?
"Why, do you feel troubled, Brother Li?”Si Chen narrowed his eyes. It wasn't too much to make such a big concession and withdraw some living expenses first, right?”
These words did seem to make sense!
However, he felt that it was too much.
Li Shimin didn't want to stay any longer. Otherwise, he didn't know how many requests Si Chen had. He cupped his hands and said,"As long as there's no problem with Brother Si's salt-making technology, everything is negotiable. I'll take my leave and go back to prepare.”
After saying that, he got on the carriage and left the market in a flash.
It was as if he was afraid that Si Chen would chase after him.
This book is provided by FunNovel Novel Book | Fan Fiction Novel [Beautiful Free Novel Book]