Five days later.
Ma Chao, with a full contingent of the Second Division, two thousand veterans, and a thousand new recruits transferred from Zhang Tian, left Shenyang City.
Just as he saw Ma Chao off and before entering the city, a caravan came into view from the west, stretching as far as the eye could see.
Fang Er, in confusion, took out his spyglass to observe. The caravan flew the banner of the Tian Yong Unit.
Were these the tribal people of Bā Lè Měng Gān?
His heart stirred, and he quickly led his men to meet them.
Upon seeing Fang Er, the people in the caravan stopped voluntarily, and one person emerged from within.
This person was Bā Lè Měng Gān's personal guard.
"Tian Yong Unit, Luoluo Ta greets the Duke!"
"This subordinate is acting on the orders of the chieftain to escort the fluorite!"
As expected, the vehicles were indeed carrying fluorite!
Fang Er walked up. All the vehicles were the common "lele" carts of the grasslands, and the items were packed in sheepskin bags.
"That damn Bā Lè Měng Gān, truly extravagant!"
But it was also understandable. After all, where else would they find materials to make bags on the grasslands? To them, sheepskin was just an ordinary commodity.
He opened a sheepskin bag. It was packed to the brim with fluorite. The color was somewhat dim, indicating that Bā Lè had kept the better quality ones to sell as jewelry.
"How many were sent this time?"
Fang Er asked curiously.
"Reporting to the Duke, there are four hundred carts in total, two hundred thousand catties," Luoluo Ta said, pointing to the caravan still moving towards them in the distance.
"Good! I'll be going ahead. I'll be waiting for you at the market!"
Fang Er patted Luoluo Ta on the shoulder and then led his men towards the market.
He himself had set the rule that large transactions must be conducted at the market, so he had to lead by example.
Of course, doing so definitely had its benefits.
That is, all transactions within the market must be truthfully reported and taxed!
Although the previously agreed price was ten copper coins per dan, it certainly couldn't be calculated at that rate now.
It was so ridiculously low that Fang Er felt a bit embarrassed.
Ten copper coins for one hundred and twenty catties. Calculated this way, the two hundred thousand catties would only amount to a little over ten strings of coins.
He figured Bā Lè Měng Gān must be terrible at accounting. If they really settled at this price, the fellow would probably cry himself to sleep.
Leaving a soldier behind at the market entrance to wait for Luoluo Ta, Fang Er entered the market with Zhu Zi.
On the southeast corner of Shizi Street, Fang Er opened the door to his shop. This prime location was a shop he had kept for his own use.
The market had been open for a long time, but this particular shop was opening its doors for the first time.
The shop assistants and shopkeepers from the surrounding businesses curiously gathered around, wondering which great figure had purchased this prime spot.
To their surprise, when they saw Fang Er himself, they were all startled and quickly bowed.
"Ah, Duke! This shop is yours!"
"May the Duke's business prosper!"
"May the Duke's wealth grow abundantly!"
Such auspicious words poured out from the shopkeepers as if they were free.
"Alright, don't crowd around. Go back to your businesses!"
After seeing everyone off, not long after, Luoluo Ta arrived at the shop, following the soldier Fang Er had left behind.
As he approached the entrance and looked up, he noticed that the shop didn't even have a sign. Luoluo Ta couldn't help but wonder.
"The great lords are truly great. They don't even put up signs when doing business!"
"Duke, the caravan is parked outside the market. How should I proceed?"
"Next, sit and drink water while we wait for the clerk to come and tally everything."
Fang Er casually handed him a bottle of Dongyue Bird.
"Thank you for the Duke's generous gift!"
Luoluo Ta eagerly accepted it, imitated how Bā Lè Měng Gān twisted the cap before, and gulped down a few mouthfuls.
Large transactions required a clerk's inspection, which was also a rule. Fang Er sent a soldier to call the clerk who guarded the fair scale at the intersection outside the shop.
Upon hearing that the Duke had summoned him, the clerk dashed into the shop. His eyes swept around the shop, and upon seeing Fang Er, he quickly approached, stood at attention, and saluted, mimicking the style of the Tian Huo Army.
"Greetings, Duke!"
The action was very standard, but his attire, combined with this modern-style military salute, created a sense of incongruity.
"Hahaha, good, good. Here, this is for you!"
Fang Er took out another bottle of Dongyue Bird and handed it to the clerk.
"Thank you for the Duke's generous gift. May I ask what orders the Duke has for me?"
Fang Er pointed to Luoluo Ta beside him: "I have made a deal with the Tian Yong Unit. The quantity is quite large. Please come and record it, and then collect the taxes accordingly."
"Thank you for the Duke's trust! I will do my utmost!"
The clerk's attitude was as sincere as it could be, appearing willing to do anything.
"Zhu Zi, take two men and bring the large scale from outside. Go with him to weigh the fluorite delivered by the Tian Yong Unit."
After Zhu Zi and the clerk left, Fang Er and Luoluo Ta waited in the shop.
Luoluo Ta was unaccustomed to being alone with someone of higher status than his own chieftain. Whenever he noticed Fang Er looking at him, he would grin sheepishly, revealing a set of yellow and black rotten teeth.
"Come, tell me, is the fluorite mine found by the Tian Yong Unit large?"
Fang Er began to inquire about the situation.
He needed to consider the production volume to determine a fair price for Bā Lè Měng Gān.
Luoluo Ta had been wanting an excuse to say something for a while. Hearing Fang Er's question, he felt a sense of relief. It was so awkward!
"Reporting to the Duke, it's large! Very large! It's just that the tribe lacks manpower. Otherwise, we would have dug out even more!"
It only took them less than ten days to extract these two hundred thousand catties.
After speaking, Luoluo Ta grinned again.
Fang Er was shocked!
"So rich, huh?"
"Alright, let's set a fair price. One copper coin per catty. Yes, that should be appropriate."
Calculated this way, two hundred thousand catties of fluorite would be two hundred strings of coins, equivalent to a hundred sheep.
Since Bā Lè Měng Gān had found it for free anyway, he probably wouldn't mind, right?
"Yes, it's a done deal!"
The clerk returned to the shop with Zhu Zi: "Duke, I have finished the tally. There are a total of two hundred and thirty-three thousand, two hundred catties."
Fang Er nodded and said, "One copper coin per catty. Collect taxes at this price."
After speaking, he looked at Zhu Zi again: "Go back to the manor and get the money from Xing'er."
"Yes, Duke!"
Zhu Zi turned and left.
Luoluo Ta looked at Fang Er in disbelief: "Duke, when I came out, the chieftain instructed me that it was ten copper coins per dan, stating that it was the price you had previously set."
Fang Er waved his hand: "That was just a casual remark at Qikou. It shouldn't be taken seriously."
"Go back and tell your chieftain that from now on, the settlement price will be one copper coin per catty. Let him dig as much as he can, and I will buy all of it."
"Ah! Thank you, Duke, you are truly generous! No wonder our chieftain always says you are a good person."
Luoluo Ta looked extremely fawning.
However, when these words reached Fang Er's ears, he instantly felt extremely awkward.
Generous?
Damn it, alright, if you think I'm generous, then so be it.