Chapter 99: Extremists

Several people were slightly startled.

In such a difficult situation, could this Young Master Liu actually come up with a method?

Now, truly, one is a stranger in a strange land, with neither soldiers nor money.

Xiang Chenglin, in particular, felt that this Young Master Liu was acting on whims; could he be some sheltered rich young master, arrogant and ignorant of the dangers of the world?

Liu Zheng chuckled and asked, "Manager Xiang, what is the current situation of the Third Prince? Can you provide specific details?"

Xiang Chenglin gave a bitter smile, not knowing how he had gotten involved with this Young Master Liu, whether it was a blessing or a curse, so he told the truth. The Third Prince, Halike, had always been a hostage in the Longyang Dynasty. Originally, according to the order of succession in the Loulan Kingdom, it would never have been his turn to return and inherit the throne.

However, after the old King died, the Crown Prince and the Second Prince were assassinated one after another.

Only then did it become the Third Prince's turn, but by this time, all of Loulan was in a state of panic. The Seventh Prince, supported by the Temple Army, had immense power; the support of religious faith allowed the Seventh Prince, who was originally a concubine's son, to win over the hearts of the majority of the people. Looking at the Third Prince's side, although he had managed to return to the country with difficulty, he was struggling at every step. The Loulan court and public were in chaos, and the Pro-Han Faction, under the intimidation of the Temple, was facing disintegration. The Royal Guard was smaller than the Temple Army, which was the most fatal point.

The Han merchants were even more panicked, fearing that the disaster would spread to them.

Therefore, no matter how one looked at it, the Third Prince was in a losing game!

Xiang Chenglin also advised: "Young Master Liu, this matter cannot be done!"

Liu Zheng laughed aloud: "Why can it not be done? Manager Xiang, do not forget! On what does Loulan base its nation?"

Xiang Chenglin looked blank, not understanding.

Liu Zheng said indifferently: "Trade!"

A sharp light burst from his eyes: "Everyone thinks that currently in Loulan, the religion is greater than the imperial court, but that is not the case! If Loulan did not occupy the passage to the Western Regions, where would its territory today come from? Longyan to the east, the Western Regions and the Western Ocean to the west; Loulan is actually a central hub!"

Manager Xiang's eyes lit up as he listened.

In Loulan, where the Temple Army ran rampant, everyone thought that the foundation of Loulan would slowly shift from the royal family to the theocracy. Who could have imagined that Liu Zheng's vision would be so sharp? Thinking about it carefully, these words were not false at all. The reason Loulan was so powerful was because of its inclusiveness!

Trade!

This place was the most important link of the Silk Road; it was the merchants coming and going that created the prosperity of Loulan today. Otherwise, relying on a Temple alone would be far from enough.

Without these merchants and goods coming and going, the Loulan people probably wouldn't even be able to fill their stomachs, so what would the Temple matter?

Thinking this, Liu Zheng smiled faintly: "Therefore, merchants from all walks of life will be the turning point of this competition! Do not limit yourself to Longyan merchants; there are also Loulan merchants, Western Ocean merchants, and Nanyang merchants!"

The three of them had their eyes light up as they looked at each other.

Such a unique approach actually sounded quite reasonable.

Liu Zheng's eyes were burning: "We can proceed in two steps! From today on, I am Manager Xiang's nephew, from Hanzhong, named Xiang Zheng! Miss Zheng will be my wife, managing affairs at the Rongxiang Firm."

Zheng Yue Ru blushed upon hearing this and nodded slightly.

"From today on, I am a student who has come to Loulan for academic travel! Miss Zheng is responsible for the operation of the firm. One for literature and one for commerce; both hands must be grasped, and both hands must be firm!"

The three of them were amazed.

In terms of literature, one could influence social ideology, reunite the Pro-Han Faction, and stabilize the morale of the Third Prince's side. In terms of commerce, one could gather merchants from all sides, increase social influence, and weaken the Temple's bewitchment of the people.

By attacking from both aspects, the Third Prince would still have a chance of salvation!

Xiang Chenglin had been wandering the world for so long; how could he not understand this logic? Being pointed out by Liu Zheng, he suddenly felt that a great cause could be achieved.

No sooner said than done.

Xiang Chenglin indeed had many connections in the commercial field of Shancheng.

Zheng Yue Ru did not waste words either; following Liu Zheng's instructions, she had Xiang Chenglin convey a message to these merchants from all directions.

Seven days later.

In Kucheng, at the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce, a Refined Salt bidding conference would begin!

Which was an auction in later generations!

This news spread throughout all of Loulan in an instant.

Refined Salt?

They had heard of salt, and in this Loulan, it was already at a sky-high price! How refined could Refined Salt be? Xiang Chenglin was full of worry, fearing that such publicity would be too false, but when Zheng Yue Ru let him take a look at the Refined Salt here, Xiang Chenglin shut his mouth.

Was this salt?

This was gold!

White gold!

With shock and admiration for this Young Master Liu rising in his heart again, Xiang Chenglin was overjoyed. This bidding conference, held in the name of the Rongxiang Firm, would certainly greatly increase the reputation of the Rongxiang Firm in Loulan! Had they not even set off for Kucheng yet, and merchants large and small were already finding ways to ask him just how refined this Refined Salt was?

To this, Xiang Chenglin only smiled faintly: "Fine as hair, grains like sand!"

The crowd was breathless as they listened.

The sand in Loulan was not river sand; the sand in the desert was very, very small, capable of reaching the fineness of flour in later generations. It was hard for people to imagine if salt refined to such a degree really existed.

Therefore.

Three days later, two horse carriages, each with different ceremonial guards, began to slowly drive toward Kucheng.

One carriage was Liu Zheng's academic carriage. This time, he was traveling to Loulan for academic purposes in the name of Xiang Zheng from Longyan, and by the way, he would visit the high-level intellectuals of Loulan. This was a common occurrence in ancient times. Especially for a great nation like the Longyan Dynasty, having students come to Loulan for academic travel always involved official status. In the past, Loulan would receive them with very high-standard ceremonial guards, especially after Liu Zheng forged a document for "Xiang Zheng" and stamped it heavily with his own Prefectural Assistant seal; regardless of whether it was real or fake, it was certainly enough to bluff people.

The reason for waiting three days was according to the rules of academic travel; Liu Zheng first sent his documents to notify the Loulan Kingdom, and the Loulan Kingdom prepared for the reception, so it was delayed for some days.

Fortunately, within three days, Mire had not yet been beheaded...

Qin Zhangfeng was dressed as a scholar in the carriage, feeling both novel and amused: "Young Master, is the identity of a Han scholar really that useful?"

Along this journey, wherever the carriage went, people gave way, and even many young women looked on with sparkling eyes.

Liu Zheng teased: "How about Zhangfeng brings a Loulan woman back?"

Qin Zhangfeng was immediately speechless, stammering.

Liu Zheng chuckled: "It seems the Third Prince is also very happy that someone from Longyan has come for academic travel this time, otherwise, given the current situation in Loulan, I'm afraid the customs clearance documents wouldn't have been handled in three days."

Qin Zhangfeng also said amusedly: "The document clearly states that the one coming to pick us up is Reheman. If he sees that the 'talented and famous throughout the nine provinces' scholar Xiang Zheng is you, Young Master, what kind of expression will he have?"

The two looked at each other and laughed, feeling quite amused.

As for the other carriage, it did not have such an elaborate ceremonial guard as Liu Zheng's side. It was just a tall horse carriage, which at a glance was a merchant's item.

Zheng Yue Ru sat inside, and Xiang Chenglin said flatteringly from the side: "Miss Zheng, only today did I know that you are the Chief Manager of the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce. I have been disrespectful, disrespectful!"

Upon learning this news, Xiang Chenglin was so shocked his jaw nearly dropped.

These two people, to think they were hiding so deeply? Miss Zheng is the Chief Manager of the Yinzhou Chamber of Commerce, but what about Young Master Liu? He drew a sharp breath—Liu Zheng? He truly wanted to slap himself hard right now; two legendary figures renowned throughout Liangzhou were right in front of him, yet he had been completely unaware!

At this, his attitude became humble and respectful.

Zheng Yue Ru chuckled and said, "Manager Xiang, please don't be so reserved, lest others notice any flaws."

Xiang Chenglin nodded and promised, certainly, certainly.

Zheng Yue Ru said indifferently, "Since Young Master Liu asked me to explain this matter to you, it shows that he trusts Manager Xiang."

Xiang Chenglin was overwhelmed with gratitude, nearly kneeling down.

It was truly because he knew who this Young Master Liu was; how could his small trading firm in Hanzhong compare to this behemoth backed by the Liangzhou Prefecture? At this moment, he also understood why Liu Zheng was hiding his identity—it was because of this Refined Salt!

This Refined Salt was actually produced by Liu Zheng himself!

A Prefectural Assistant privately manufacturing salt—in the Longyan Dynasty, this was a crime punishable by the execution of one's entire clan!

However, here in Loulan...

He would even be revered as a god. One must know that in Loulan, and even further west, salt was scarce. Most commoners would only dare to take out a piece of salt during meals to lick it on their tongues... Putting salt in cooking? That was wishful thinking; it was something only wealthy families dared to imagine. Most Loulan people didn't even have salt to lick; sometimes, they could only find fruits with higher salt content to satisfy their "salt cravings"...

It was extremely pitiful.

Ordinary salt already sold for one tael of silver per liter here, and this Refined Salt started at at least three taels!

Thinking of this, Xiang Chenglin was ecstatic.

His business mainly ran from Hanzhong to Loulan. Looking at it this way, Young Master Liu wanted to develop him into an Agent in Loulan! How could he not serve him well?

"Yes, yes, Miss Zheng, please rest assured, Xiang Chenglin will naturally do his utmost!"

Xiang Chenglin expressed his loyalty.

Zheng Yue Ru smiled faintly. She also understood Liu Zheng's intention. No matter how exotic or prosperous Loulan was, they would eventually have to return to Yinzhou, and someone had to manage things here. Since this Xiang Chenglin had the connections, resources, foundation, and decent character, letting him take on the role was not a bad idea.

Shancheng was still two days away from Kucheng.

The journey along the way was desolate. Liu Zheng saw that cotton had already been introduced to Loulan, and the fields of cotton were growing impressively. He sighed; although Loulan could not compare to the vast territory of the Longyan Dynasty and its level of civilization was far inferior, it was precisely because Loulan traded with all parts of the world that items like cotton, tomatoes, and Chili could be introduced to Loulan. But clearly, only cotton had begun large-scale cultivation. Even so, it had brought many surprises to the people of Loulan.

The Loulan Kingdom must be taken!

The Silk Road must be built!

Just on the last day, as they were about to arrive at Kucheng, the capital of Loulan, several people suddenly rushed out from a village nearby. They looked fierce and malicious, holding torches in their hands and muttering in a language he did not know, charging toward Liu Zheng's Horse Carriage.

Before the people even arrived, the torches were already thrown over!

Liu Zheng's expression changed drastically.

【Author's Note】

I have a cold and feel terrible. The requests for updates from yesterday to today haven't been very encouraging, brothers...