Although Zuo Liangyu's reward was generous, Li Ping's consumption was even greater. It was obviously not possible to just sit back and have nothing, so he had to find other ways to amass wealth.

Therefore, even if Song Baolai had no time, he would go to Zhuangzi to do big business.

South of Xiangyang City, beyond the long and narrow Xian Mountain, to the southeast of Xian Mountain, on the other side of Lumen Mountain, and on the edge of the Han River.

Although there are no detours or mountains to climb from Wanshan to here, the journey is not short.

But Song Baolai had to go to such trouble.

Because there are basically no merchant ships willing to cross the city to the dangerous west of Xiangyang City to get close to Wanshan, and the area in the east of Xiangyang City within the great bend of the Han River is too crowded and eye-catching.

If you want to do big business during the war, you must find a more remote place, away from the bustle and hustle and bustle.

Therefore, we can only choose the lower reaches of the Han River. The farther the better, but not too far.

Fortunately, those who dare to travel in the chaos of war are large merchant ships, and they always have enough goods in their hands.

When Song Baolai arrived at this deserted riverside, there were already two large sailing ships waiting here.

However, the two large sailing ships were still some distance away from the shore. There was only one small boat leaning against the shore. The four knife-wielding men on the small boat were watching the car and horse team led by Song Baolai warily.

After Song Baolai's cavalry came to a stop more than a hundred meters away from the shore, a rider came to the boat and said a few words, and then the four men escorted a middle-aged, thin steward-looking man off the boat to the cavalry.

Come this way.

Song Baolai, who was riding on the horse, kept looking nervously at each other and the two sailboats. He did not dismount, but let one of his stewards talk to the other side.

The hundreds of officers and soldiers transferred from the army around the chariot and horse team were on alert as if they were facing a formidable enemy. Malan, who was also standing on the horse next to Song Baolai, was constantly scanning everything around him with his eyes.

After lifting the cover of a carriage, he selected seven or eight medium-sized earthenware jars from the dozens of medium-sized earthenware jars in the carriage, and tasted the fine noodles in each earthenware jar himself. The thin steward who came off the boat was still tensed.

The sullen person finally relaxed.

As for the other car, Manager Slim did not inspect it.

After the thin steward nodded continuously, a man next to the thin steward ran to the shore and shouted to the big boats in the river. Soon one of the big boats docked at the simple pier on the shore, but the other one still did not move.

These days, there are many soldiers, bandits, and merchants who are all in the same family. There is nothing to trust, so everyone is very careful.

There are many such dilapidated and simple small wharves along the Han River downstream of Xiangyang, and they are spread for dozens of miles along the river. During the prosperous years of the Ming Dynasty, these small wharves were also used by fleets in an endless stream, and it was difficult to find one.

But right now, there is no one around for miles.

The small fleet would not easily stop here, but they would basically gather in the east of Fancheng and close to the edge of the city.

However, this also facilitates transactions that don't want to attract attention.

When the big ship docked, another twenty men with swords and spears got off the ship, and then loads of goods began to be unloaded.

Seeing that the goods had been unloaded on the opposite side, Song Baolai waved his hand, and his steward also ran to the small pier to inspect the goods.

After the steward waved to indicate that there was no problem, Song Baolai turned to Malan and said, "Get off your horse and bring ten good men with me. The others will stay here."

In Malan's astonishment, Song Baolai said helplessly: "Go and gather people quickly. If this is the only deal, why am I here? Do you want to see how you set up a battle?"

"But this is too dangerous!" Malan still hesitated.

"What, are you scared? Or do you think you can't protect me?" Song Baolai said sarcastically.

Malan's face turned red from the stimulation. He gritted his teeth and said, "I'll make arrangements right away. Sir Song, please wait a moment."

When Song Baolai and his people arrived at the shore to see the goods in person, the thin steward on the boat immediately whispered to Song Baolai's steward, and then a man next to him jumped onto the large sailboat on the dock.

Song Baolai had never seen the thin steward before, and the thin steward probably didn't know him either.

Soon, a middle-aged and wealthy man got off the large sailboat that had its sails raised.

As soon as he saw Song Baolai's face, he bowed his head and said, "It turns out it's Master Song. I'm disrespectful and disrespectful."

After Song Baolai waited for his steward to bite his ears, he also learned to bow his head and said: "Oh! It turns out to be Yuan Wai, disrespectful."

After some humility, the two people who met for the first time burst into laughter.

Song Baolai's use of the term "official" to address the businessman was a clear sign of respect. After all, Song Baolai was an officer in the army, and it was impossible to address a businessman with more respectable terms such as "a high official", let alone to call him brother or sister.

It is very polite to call him Yuan Wai, who is a neutral person and the identity that most landlords and wealthy businessmen like to donate at this time.

"Put away all the weapons! Mr. Song is here, why don't you worry?" The businessman surnamed Xu suddenly said to the people around him with a smile.

As soon as his low-pitched voice fell, the more than twenty men with swords and spears on his side of the dock immediately put away their weapons.

The businessman surnamed Xu's identity as the master of decision-making is obviously not fake.

Of course, the businessman surnamed Xu dared to do this because of his rich experience, and he would not look at Song Bao, who was thinner and tenderer than most people here.

The leader of the officers and soldiers has already come to the ship in person without fear of danger. He is sincere enough. If he does not take any kind action, it will look like there is something wrong with them.

There is less public alertness and the atmosphere is more relaxed.

At this time, the steward on Song Baolai's side began to inspect the goods one by one, and the steward on the businessman named Xu also took people to the convoy to inspect the cans one by one.

Although the price has been negotiated in advance and the total quantity of goods has been clarified, both parties still have to go through the same process today to ensure that the quality of the sample goods is consistent with that of the actual goods, and that the quantity is not adulterated.

When it comes to large-scale transactions, both parties need to be cautious.

"Master Song, why do you need so much coarse salt when you have so much fine salt on hand?" Xu Yuanwai asked curiously.

"Why do soldiers eat fine salt? It's good to have coarse salt. It's fundamental to exchange more food every time you go." Song Baolai said carelessly.

"Haha, that's true." The businessman named Xu said with a smile.

The material used by Song Baolai to barter was refined salt, but at this time, people mostly called it fine salt.

There was generally no shortage of salt in the Ming Dynasty, but it was just because of salt policy issues that it was more troublesome to obtain salt. Moreover, most of the salt in the Ming Dynasty was coarse salt, that is, granular salt.

Although refined salt, that is, fine salt, also exists, and it cannot be said to be rare, the quantity is still very small in general, because there was no effective fine salt processing technology in the Ming Dynasty, which naturally led to the high price of refined salt.

However, the demand for refined salt was very large. The development of the commodity economy in the Ming Dynasty and the polarization of the social gap between rich and poor created a huge wealthy class and aristocratic groups, especially in Jiangnan.

Not only does the diet of this class require a large amount of refined salt, but many lifestyle habits also require it, such as brushing teeth.

At this time, there was no toothpaste, so the rich used salt to brush their teeth. Of course, this salt could not be coarse salt.

Therefore, an important means for the peasant army in the northwest to raise military pay and supplies is to use fine salt to conduct large-scale underground transactions, because the land salt-producing areas they control can naturally produce fine salt, although the amount is of course not large.

And there are always many military leaders and big businessmen in this world who are unprincipled for profit.

Making refined salt was difficult for the ancients, but it was not very complicated for Li Ping, especially since he had Song Baolai, a troublemaker, and more importantly, he had a hidden and independent place.

Therefore, it has become a good way to purchase large quantities of coarse salt and then process it into fine salt for resale.

"If there is more fine salt, can Mr. Xu still be able to eat it?" Song Baolai asked casually while watching the steward inspect the goods.

The businessman surnamed Xu was stunned when he heard this, then stared at Song Baolai and said, "Why, Mr. Song still has goods?"

"Not now, but we may get a batch later." Song Baolai replied calmly.

"Oh, Mr. Song, you have a way!" the businessman surnamed Xu suddenly said.

"It's okay! Do you want more?" Song Baolai answered ambiguously.

"Yes, of course. Your salt is rare and of the highest quality. I want as much as I can. However, I don't have much food, cotton and coarse cloth on hand. Can I trade it for satin, silk and porcelain?"

, I also have some fine Song brocade and Yun brocade there."

The businessman surnamed Xu did not continue to inquire. He did not ask questions that should not be asked, especially the whereabouts. He still understood these rules. He only needed to confirm that Song Baolai would still have the goods. It was enough.

"Don't worry, it will take a while, and the quantity should be more than this time. See if you can exchange some goods with other stores or think of other ways. I don't want satin or porcelain, I only want food and cotton.

And coarse cloth, of course, if you have iron in your hand, it will do." Song Baolai said seriously.

The businessman surnamed Xu said happily: "Sir Song, as long as you have the goods, I have a solution. The price will be as we discussed this time? Let your people keep in touch with my manager, and the place of contact remains unchanged.

"

"Then it's settled." Song Baolai said cheerfully.

The conversation was settled again, and both parties were in a much better mood.

Taking advantage of this enthusiasm, Song Baolai greeted again: "Except Member Song, I also got some good things here. Take a look and estimate the price. If appropriate, I can also get some more."

With that said, Song Baolai took out the perfume and lipstick from his arms...

After the goods from both parties had been inspected and loaded onto their respective ships and carriages, in the middle area, Song Baolai and Xu Yuanwai were saying goodbye cordially. The smoothness of this transaction had obviously greatly enhanced their mutual trust.

After finishing the arching, the businessman surnamed Xu did not put down his hand, but hesitated and asked: "The army is mobilized frequently. I wonder if Mr. Song can tell me which general is doing the errand? It will also make it easier for me to contact you in the future."

"Guerrilla Li Ping." Song Baolai simply told the truth after handing him over.

"I've heard about it, young hero. Mr. Song, thank you." The businessman surnamed Xu smiled and struck again, and another stone was put down in his heart.

Finally finishing such a big deal, Song Baolai walked back happily looking at several carts full of supplies.

In fact, such a big deal is very difficult to contact, let alone finalize. Both parties are afraid of taking advantage of others, and this happens all too often.

To be honest, this is the first time Song Baolai and the others have experienced such a large scale, but only such a big deal can solve substantive problems.

You will never make a fortune by working in small jobs.

Therefore, Song Baolai had to come in person regardless of the danger, take the lead in dispelling the other party's concerns, and see if he could finalize a long-term cooperation with the other party, so that both parties would have peace of mind.

Looking at it now, the effect is not bad.

Most of the big businessmen in ancient times placed great emphasis on trust, which was the basis for their ability to make their business bigger, stronger and more lasting. Song Baolai hoped that he would not encounter any strangers.

Of course, the possibility of encountering strangers among big businessmen is also the lowest, because just once, the credibility of these big businessmen is over, and they no longer need to do business.

On the way, Song Baolai asked Malan: "Don't imitate the transactions you lead tomorrow, but be more careful. They are no better than these businessmen who only eat this kind of food."

"Don't worry, sir. Fang Guoan's bunch of trash, they dare to resort to tricks, I will prevent them from seeing the light of tomorrow." Malan said with disdain.
Chapter completed!