Chapter 5: The Qihuo Army

The price Lin Dao offered was extremely tempting.

On the verge of starving to death, forget gold — they'd give you their bodies.

Since ancient times, whenever disaster and famine struck, those who sold their children and wives were countless.

Light flared in Feng Dun's eyes, and he slapped his thigh hard. "Good!"

Seeing this reaction, Lin Dao's heart immediately skipped a beat.

'Damn, I priced it too low.'

In Lin Dao's view, a hundred cash per dou of rice was already a sky-high price.

After all, during the Reign of Zhenguan, the lowest rice price was only two cash per dou.

'Still inexperienced — this should be a seller's market!'

Lin Dao clearly regretted it.

But he quickly adjusted his mindset.

'No matter, my costs are low enough.'

'Grain is a daily consumable — volume wins.'

In the Jin Dynasty, one dou equaled approximately twelve market catties; Lin Dao's forty bags of rice amounted to two thousand catties.

Calculating at a hundred cash per dou, that came to sixteen thousand six hundred and some cash.

Later Zhao's currency basically followed the Two Han and Wei-Jin standards.

The official rate was one catty of gold exchanging for ten catties of silver, roughly ten thousand copper cash.

Of course, this was the official rate.

In chaotic times, the value of gold and silver far surpassed copper cash.

The saying "gold in chaotic times" has existed since antiquity.

After a round of negotiation, both sides quickly agreed: at the price of one gold cake — that is, one catty of gold — they would buy these forty bags of refined rice.

Lin Dao's cost price was roughly four thousand-plus soft sister coins.

And a gold cake of not-high purity weighed roughly half a market catty, about two hundred fifty grams.

The pawnshop recycling price was around one hundred thousand.

This kind of hugely profitable business made Lin Dao grin from ear to ear.

He was already impatient to expand his export business.

Once the company registration succeeded, he'd be exporting several tons, several dozen tons of grain.

"As long as you have gold, you can have as much grain as you want."

Without a doubt, the Qihuo Army took this as boasting.

In the current Great Zhao, aside from the Imperial Court, no one could produce large batches of grain.

But it didn't matter — as long as he could deliver grain, the Qihuo Army was willing to give him gold.

Compared to grain that could fill bellies, inedible gold wasn't worth a fart.

Tens of thousands of households opening their mouths for food — however much grain Lin Dao transported, they could eat it all.

"Your Honor, please take your seat."

Feng Dun enthusiastically greeted Lin Dao to the banquet. "Bring wine, bring good wine, bring the best wine!"

The alcohol content was average, not even matching beer, the flavor slightly sour and astringent.

As for dishes, there were only fermented black beans, pickled vegetables, sauces, and charred-black roasted meat.

Lin Dao didn't know if others liked eating it, but looking at these plates of pitch-black dishes before him.

He set down his chopsticks, picked up his wine cup, and watched the song and dance.

Compared to the food and wine, the beautiful serving maids who added entertainment with song and dance were clearly more attractive.

The commander-generals of the various walled settlements, receiving the news, rushed over one after another to attend the banquet.

Filling their bellies for a meal was secondary; the important thing was connecting with this grain merchant.

In the past, aristocratic clan scions gathered just for the sake of gathering.

Empty talk and big words, mutual commercial flattery, then taking drug powders, embracing beautiful maids in debauchery.

As for state and nation, no one cared.

Now it was different.

At least the commander-generals on the Qihuo Army's side were all very pragmatic.

Confirming Lin Dao would keep sending grain, they fought until their faces were red and ears crimson over quotas.

Vile language filled the air, even coming to blows.

The entire banquet was a complete mess.

Watching the lively scene with a grin, Lin Dao suddenly slapped his thigh.

"Buyers this enthusiastic, and I, the supplier, am really too unprofessional!"

"At a time like this I should be restocking — how can I be here watching the show?"

Lin Dao immediately set off to take his leave, rode his tricycle away from the camp, and returned to the Modern World.

This time he switched to a different agricultural market and purchased forty bags of rice again.

"I'm delivering to a university canteen."

Lin Dao casually fabricated a reason. "The school has a lot of mouths to feed."

"Then you're making a killing." The merchant laughed heartily while helping lift the rice bags. "A school canteen is the most profitable — are you related to the principal's family?"

Purely idle chat.

As long as you could pay, the merchant didn't care whether you bought it for people to eat or to feed livestock.

Yonghe Spacetime, Shangbai, Guangzong County.

Lin Dao, returning once more to the Qihuo Army Old Camp, received an enthusiastic welcome.

Especially the stack of rice bags on the tricycle; once opened, revealing the white refined rice, it made everyone in the Qihuo Army beam with joy.

Each one treated Lin Dao with extreme reverence, as if they wanted to worship him.

There's no helping it; in this damned era, whoever has grain is the boss.

"May I ask, sir, do you have a courtesy name?"

Feng Dun was extremely enthusiastic, his eyes shining.

"Zihou." Lin Dao gave himself a courtesy name.

"Brother Zi Hou." Feng Dun enthusiastically introduced several Qihuo Army officers to Lin Dao.

"Brother Zi Hou, I've arranged wine and food over there; please do us the honor~"

"Brother Zi Hou, I have dancers there; their singing and dancing are unmatched~"

"Brother Zi Hou, I have a famous blade; I wish to present it to you~"

"Brother Zi Hou, I have a fine horse; a precious horse suits a hero~"

The Qihuo Army throughout Guangzong County numbered tens of thousands of households.

Men, women, old and young—these are several hundred thousand mouths that need feeding.

Whether it's the Grand Commander or a general, if they can't fill their subordinates' bellies, they'll be served up on a table in no time.

Lin Dao being able to continuously provide them with grain was practically closer than their own fathers.

After all, in this era, even one's own father might hand you over to the table in exchange for grain.

But Lin Zihou would bring you grain.

Lin Dao declined, urging them to weigh and settle the accounts as soon as possible.

Selling by weight, still one Gold Cake—that is, one jin of gold buying forty bags of refined rice.

"Brother Zi Hou." Feng Dun's expression was excited. "With so much refined rice, where did you get it from?"

"As far as I know, the areas around Luoyang have long been fought to ruin; few places still grow anything."

Lin Dao smiled without speaking.

Feng Dun, coming back to his senses, raised his hand and slapped his own forehead.

"Look at me, actually talking nonsense."

Trade secrets are something best not pried into.

He called out to Qin Lang, "Take Brother Zi Hou to rest."

Turning back, he spoke frankly to Lin Dao, "I've prepared a residence for Brother Zi Hou to rest in; by all means, do not disdain it."

Lin Dao naturally had no objection. "Then thank you."

Qin Lang rode a horse to lead the way, Lin Dao drove the tricycle, traveling over roads frozen hard, until they arrived at a residence.

"Brother Zi Hou." Qin Lang was very enthusiastic. "This is it; I hope Brother Zi Hou won't disdain it."

"You're too kind."

Lin Dao got off and stepped forward, pushing open the door, then froze. The courtyard was full of women and horses, packed tight.

The scent of rice drifted in the air; the women held wooden and earthen bowls as they ate.

"Master~~~"

Jin Lian lifted her skirt and came running over happily.

"Master, you're back; Slave misses you so much."

The busy women in the courtyard all came forward to salute.

Looking at Jin Lian's large, black eyes, Lin Dao's expression softened. "Why are you all here?"

"We slaves all belong to Master."

Jin Lian responded softly, "The Grand Commander arranged for us slaves to wait here for Master's return."

Last time Lin Dao left in a hurry, he hadn't considered how to settle them at all.

Unexpectedly, the Qihuo Army had already arranged them properly.

Lin Dao had returned with grain; these women from Sanhe Village, along with the previous war spoils, were naturally still his personal property.

If he didn't return for some time, they would naturally be distributed.

"First take the horses out and give them to Qin Lang and the others to raise." Lin Dao waved his hand. "People and livestock living together easily causes disease."

The women put down their bowls and chopsticks, led the horses out of the courtyard, and handed them to Qin Lang.

Lin Dao surveyed their food.

The staple food in the Northern Regions of this era was Qiu Mi Fan.

Lin Dao even saw that there were bits of gravel and sand in the bowls that could chip a tooth.

There were no dishes, only some coarse grain state dishes and fermented black beans.

"Is this fit for people to eat?"

Hearing this, Xiao Yi beside Jin Lian responded, "Master, these are all the rations squeezed out by the Qihuo Army; the person who delivered the grain made a stink face for a long time."

"You all."

Lin Dao looked around at the women back inside the room, their expressions anxious. "Are you truly willing to serve me as your lord?"

The women all knelt and saluted. "We slaves are willing~~~"

"If that's the case, then I cannot mistreat you."

Lin Dao pointed at their bowls. "Pour all of this out; wait for me to come back and eat something good."

He went out, mounted the tricycle, left the settlement, and came to a secluded place.

Returning to the Modern World, he drove straight to the Snack Street near the Logistics Center.

"Boss."

Arriving, Lin Dao greeted him directly, "Give me thirty boxed meals, to go."

"Got it." The boss enthusiastically greeted Lin Dao to sit and wait, the wok spatula tossing food high into the air.

While waiting for the food to be cooked and packed, Lin Dao sat on a plastic stool fiddling with his phone.

Messages in the company group chat were endless, everyone striving to show how busy their work was.

Soon, Lin Dao saw a message mentioning him by name.

"Zhou Zhe: Lin Dao, are you there? How have you been these past few days at the Cang Ku?"

"Zhou Zhe: I have to say, warehouse work isn't difficult, but it requires patience and effort."

"Zhou Zhe: Although your position changed, your attitude toward work cannot change; remember to be dedicated."

This person had previously been at odds with Lin Dao, thinking Lin Dao was a poor ghost, what right did he have to have a beautiful girlfriend.

Now that Lin Dao had fallen on hard times, he definitely had to come over and step on him a couple times to feel good.

"Zhou Zhe: Little Lin, although warehouse work is dull and the pay isn't high, this is an important position; for the company, the warehouse manager's position is very important."

"Zhou Zhe: Although your salary has been lowered, at least you don't have to rent a house anymore, saving a large sum of money that can be used to find a new girlfriend."

"Zhou Zhe: Don't ask for too much, as long as she's a woman~~~"

Lin Dao carefully counted; these past two days Zhou Zhe had @ him over twenty times.

Smiling, Lin Dao replied to Zhou Zhe with one sentence in the group.

"@Brother Zhou, although your salary isn't high, you have no girlfriend, renting a house you can only rent in the urban-rural fringe, commuting by subway and Shared Bicycle, for face you even boast that riding a Bicycle is for morning exercise, but you sure know a lot."

At the company, Zhou Zhe, seeing the message, had a face black enough to drip ink.

The surroundings were filled with a suppressed laughter.

For someone like Zhou Zhe, a flatterer who wanted to be a dog for a domineering CEO, truly few people would like him.

"Not a scumbag, don't like thunder~~~"

The phone rang; Su Tongtong, busy outside, saw the company group message and immediately called back.

"Big Boss, the matter is settled."

Su Tongtong laughed brightly, "Registered capital, tax registration, applying for import-export rights, opening a corporate bank account, registering customs declaration—so many things, finally settled."

"The business atmosphere here in Haicheng is good, and it's fast."

She was in a great mood, casually joking, "If it were back home, one seal could hold things up for ten days or half a month."

"The holiday was all spent helping you; you must treat me to a good meal."

"Hard work, Sister Tongtong." Lin Dao smiled, "Is it a one-person limited liability company?"

"Definitely."

Lin Dao glanced at the boxed meals in the pack, "When Sister Tongtong has time, let's go to the club for tender models~~~"

On the other end of the phone, Su Tongtong laughed and scolded, "Scram~~~"

Thirty fast meals were placed in the car, and Lin Dao rode his vehicle away.

The boss scrubbed the pot while muttering, "These days, even someone riding a tricycle can start a company."

"Then I, running a fast food shop, am I not a food and beverage group enterprise."

End of Chapter