"How much are you selling your Hyderabad ores?"
Wang Chong raised his head and asked.
"We don't just sell the ores. Firstly, we don't accept five baht coins, copper coins, or silver. The silver of the Central Plains doesn't circulate in our Sindhu. However, we can accept gold and jewels! "
The two monks said.
Wang Chong nodded. This was the same as the Hu merchants of the Western Regions, so he wasn't surprised.
"In addition, we don't accept individual items. If gongzi is just looking for novelty and wants to buy a few to play with or buy in small quantities, please forgive us for not accepting it. Gongzi should leave as soon as possible. "
The two monks said with a stern expression. The two of them had traveled tens of thousands of li to the Central Plains not to sell a few silver ingots and earn some money, but to find a big customer.
This was the mission that they shouldered.
"Lastly, if we are to come to an agreement, at least half of the money must be paid in rations. This is the most important condition of our transaction. Only if you can do this will we view you as a true business partner. "
"Furthermore, you and your clan will receive the respect and gratitude of all Sindhi. Our Hyderabad will also provide you with an endless supply of goods!"
…
The two Sindhi Buddhist monks said with a serious expression.
"Ah?"
Wang Chong exclaimed in surprise.
He could understand why they didn't accept five baht coins, copper coins, and silver, but to demand that at least half of the money be paid in rations, this truly took Wang Chong by surprise!
Who in the world would use rations as a substitute for a transaction?
Wang Chong initially thought that the two monks were joking, but upon seeing their serious expressions, Wang Chong knew that they were serious.
"How could this be?"
Wang Chong's mind was in turmoil. This could be said to be the strangest transaction he had ever heard. However, looking at the gazes of the duo, Wang Chong's heart jolted. Deep in his mind, he recalled some memories from his previous life that he had forgotten.
Sindhu was different from the Central Plains!
Sindhu had a large population, but it wasn't as prosperous as the Central Plains.
Based on Wang Chong's understanding, Sindhu spent most of its time in extreme poverty, war, darkness, and chaos. This also explained why Sindhu, despite possessing such a precious strategic resource like Hyderabad, had never used it for themselves and instead sold it all over the world.
They needed food, a lot of it!
In truth, if they could, they probably hoped to exchange all of it for rations and bring it back to Sindhu.
Thinking of this, Wang Chong's mind gradually became clear.
Based on his memories, Sindhu should be in the midst of a riot. These two monks had come from Sindhu, and they bore a heavy responsibility.
It was no wonder that they were not interested in small transactions.
"… But, this is not easy!"
Wang Chong's brow creased as he thought of something.
As long as one had money, in theory, one could buy anything in the Tang dynasty. But the problem was that the Tang dynasty implemented grain control. It was very difficult to sell a single grain of rice or even a single grain of millet abroad.
'Food is the most important thing to the people'. In reality, it wasn't just the Tang dynasty. Every dynasty before that had implemented strict grain control.
These two Buddhist monks wanted to use half of the grain as a loan. This was equivalent to giving Wang Chong a difficult problem. Privately selling grain outside the country was equivalent to death!
Just based on this condition, no one in the entire Tang dynasty would be able to satisfy these two Buddhist monks.
Only then did Wang Chong realize that there was a reason why the Tang dynasty missed out on a strategic resource like WuZi Steel in his previous life. The conditions of these two Buddhist monks weren't something that anyone could easily satisfy.
Wang Chong felt deeply troubled.
But it was impossible for him to give up on WuZi Steel just like that!
"… Am I just going to let those Arabs benefit from it?"
Wang Chong inwardly frowned.
He knew that in the future, Arabia would become a thorn in the side of the Tang dynasty. If these people and a large amount of Hyderabad ore were to be given to them, it would be like adding wings to a tiger.
More importantly, Wang Chong knew that this wasn't his imagination. It was a reality that had already happened in his previous life.
If he could obtain a large amount of Hyderabad ore, not only would he be able to benefit from it, he would also be able to weaken the opponents of the Tang dynasty.
"No, the Arabs don't eat rice!"
Wang Chong suddenly thought of something.
The Arabs didn't eat rice. What they ate was a type of large date palm. Further north, the grasslands of the Turkic Khaganate didn't grow any grain.
But the monks of Hyderabad also sold their ores in these two places.
Clearly, the 'grain' that the Sindhi people understood was very different from the 'grain' that the people of the Central Plains understood. One must know that Sindhu was currently in a state of famine. As long as it was food, why would they care so much about it?
It was clear that if they didn't pay attention to this point, the negotiations might fall apart due to the Tang dynasty's grain control strategy.
At this point, Wang Chong suddenly became excited.
"Masters, how about apples, plows, and the like?"
Wang Chong suddenly asked.
The two Buddhist monks were flabbergasted. However, he nodded slowly. They had investigated and found that the rice that the people of the Central Plains ate was very suitable for the Sindhi. If they could transport a large amount of this grain to Sindhu, that would be for the best.
But if they couldn't, it would be the same even if they traded it for other food.
After all, Sindhu was currently in a state of famine!
"Then what about bananas, millet, and sorghum?"
Wang Chong asked excitedly.
"That's fine too."
The two Buddhist monks glanced at each other and nodded. As long as it was food, why would they care so much about it?
"Hahaha, then what about cows, sheep, and camels?"
Wang Chong laughed heartily as he thought further into the future.
Even though the Tang dynasty controlled grain, the cows and sheep on the plains weren't. In the territory of the Turks, there were large tracts of these livestock.
If the Buddhist monks wanted a large amount of grain, they could bypass the Tang dynasty's policy and borrow the Turks to satisfy their needs.
This was a very good way to change the situation.
"If there are cows and sheep, that would be even better."
The two Buddhist monks said.
Compared to apples and ploughs, which were hard to collect, 'grain' like cows and sheep were much more popular. As long as it could resolve the famine in Sindhu, they didn't really care what it was.
"If gongzi and the clan behind you are willing to accept this, we can continue our negotiations."
The two Buddhist monks looked at Wang Chong with much more interest than before.
"What about the price?"
Wang Chong smiled.
After coming to an agreement, the atmosphere between the two became much more relaxed.
"According to the price of your Central Plains, the Hyderabad ore is around 300 gold taels per jun!"
The two said sincerely.
"300 gold taels?!!"
Looking at the duo, Wang Chong was astonished.
"Why? You find it expensive? "
Seeing Wang Chong's expression, the faces of the two Sindhi monks darkened.
"300 gold taels is our lowest price! We won't lower it! "
"I thought that we could come to an agreement. If you can't accept this price, we can't work together anymore. — — It seems like you and your clan aren't our true partners! "
…
The attitude of the two Sindhi monks became much colder, a complete 180 degrees change from before. The price of 300 gold taels per jun was the most suitable price they came up with after gathering together.
The High Priest had clearly stated that if the price was lower than this, they wouldn't be able to make a deal.
The Hyderabad ore was different from ordinary iron ores, so it couldn't be sold at the price of ordinary iron ores. Before coming to the Central Plains, they had been to many other places and met many people.
Among them, there were those who could speak Sanskrit fluently like Wang Chong. Back then, when they heard the price, they had the same reaction as Wang Chong.
If they couldn't understand the true price of the Hyderabad ore like them, then it would be impossible for them to continue with the deal!
"Looks like the Central Plains isn't a suitable place for the Hyderabad ore!"
The two said coldly before turning around to leave.
After spending a few months in the Tang dynasty, they had already determined that this place wasn't suitable for the Hyderabad ore. Based on their plan, they would return to Sindhu in a few days.
When they first met Wang Chong, they thought that things would be different. But to think that the outcome would be the same.
Wang Chong's reaction only made them even more certain of their initial judgment.
— — The Central Plains was indeed not suitable for the Hyderabad ore!
"Wait a moment! Masters, you have misunderstood me! "
Seeing the two Buddhist monks turn around to leave, Wang Chong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. He hurriedly beckoned for them to stop.
Indeed! The price of the Hyderabad ore was indeed expensive, and it wasn't just an ordinary price, it was extremely expensive!
If 300 gold taels were to be used to purchase other ores, he could probably buy dozens of carriages. To purchase ores at this price was definitely extravagant.
However, with the memories of his previous life, Wang Chong knew that the price of the Hyderabad ore would reach tens of thousands, perhaps even hundreds of thousands of gold taels per jun.
Furthermore, it would be impossible to buy it even if one wanted to!
What the two Buddhist monks didn't know was that it wasn't that Wang Chong found it expensive. On the contrary, Wang Chong was shocked by its low price!
Compared to the astronomical prices of his previous life, the price of the Hyderabad ore was as cheap as cabbage!
Wang Chong didn't expect the ore to be so cheap at the start!
Of course, Wang Chong wouldn't be so foolish as to say it out loud.
"Masters, I can accept the price of 300 gold taels per jun!"
Wang Chong said simply.
Hearing those words, the expressions of the two Buddhist monks calmed down and they stopped:
"Even though 300 gold taels per jun isn't cheap, the 'jun' of our Sindhu is different from the 'jun' of your Central Plains. In the Central Plains, your jun is only 30 jin, but the jun of our Sindhu is' great jun ', a jun is 25 jin! It is much larger than the jun of your Central Plains — — The Hyderabad ore in your hands is a jun! "
One of the Buddhist monks said, as though trying to make Wang Chong feel better.
Wang Chong smiled. Of course, he knew the difference between Sindhu and the Central Plains. However, the two Sindhu Buddhist monks were wrong on one point. A jun of the Central Plains didn't even have 30 jin. At most, it was 25 to 26 jin.
From this point, it could be said that the Sindhis were extremely honest.
Furthermore, 50 jin of the ore was 300 gold taels. In other words, 1 jin was only 6 gold taels. Honestly speaking, this was really the price of a cabbage.
He had really arrived at the peak of the market for Hyderabad ores!
"There's no problem with the price. Now, we can talk about business."
Wang Chong said. After satisfying the conditions of the Sindhu Buddhist monks, it was time for him to move on.
"As long as you can accept our conditions, everything else isn't a problem. How many jun of ore do you want? "
The two Buddhist monks said.
"No, no! Masters, you have misunderstood! "
Wang Chong stretched out a finger and shook it with a smile:
"I have come to talk to you with great sincerity. However, there is one thing you are mistaken about. What I want is not how many jun of ores, not one jun, not two jun, not a hundred jun, not a thousand jun … What I want is to purchase the distribution rights of Hyderabad in the Central Plains, and even the entire eastern world! "
Wang Chong threw out his conditions!
What was the point of a single transaction? What was the point of buying one jun, two jun, or even a hundred or a thousand jun of Hyderabad ore?
Just a single batch of Hyderabad ore wasn't enough to form a powerful fighting force, nor was it able to increase the strength of the Tang Dynasty.
Wang Chong's ambitions were much greater!
You've already exceeded your reading limit for today. If you want to read more, please log in.
Login
Select text and click 'Report' to let us know about any bad translation.
