Section 06 Cheng Chumo

"Focus on the process, I will only do it once." Yun Ye ignored the murderous glares from the group of strong men, carefully using a small hammer to crush a large block of salt mine into small grains, approximately ten pounds in weight. After calling Zhang Cheng, he poured the salt mine into the stone mill's opening. Zhang Cheng then began to turn the stone mill by hand, and the brown mineral powder slowly overflowed from the edge of the mill. Yun Ye collected the mineral powder into a wooden barrel, added water, and stirred with a wooden stick to ensure the salt dissolved fully in the water. Once the solution was saturated, he poured it into another wooden barrel covered with double layers of burlap. Before long, the burlap was filled with gray-black mineral residue. After removing the burlap, the solution in the barrel turned brown, the color lightening, but impurities remained abundant. He then covered another wooden barrel with four layers of burlap for a second filtration, resulting in a light red solution.

Thinking of this, he took off the backpack from Wangcai's back, took out a bag of salt, divided some for himself, and placed the remainder in the trembling woman's hands. He put the backpack back on and led Wangcai outside.

Turning his head to look at the school officer, he smiled and said: "Salt, it's just a small effort. Having witnessed your intelligence, I believe you will have many requests for me in the future. I am quite stingy by nature, so if you need anything from me later, you will have to let Zhang Cheng give you a beating. One request, one beating, fair and square."

If such a remarkable person is not visited, would it not cause one to regret for three lifetimes

Yun Ye is well aware of how terrifying the profits from salt in the Tang Dynasty can be. As the ancients said, possessing a treasure can be a crime; if it is not shared, it may lead to disaster. One must not be too greedy. There is no need to worry now; if things go well, there may even be rewards to receive. At this moment, Officer Cheng probably has already forgotten about the impending punishment.

Salted brine is toxic

The officer restrained his furious subordinate, clasping his hands in a fist: "I am beginning to believe that you can produce salt. As long as the brothers no longer lack salt, what does it matter if I take a beating? I hope you succeed

Alas, the heavens do not favor us; the early demise of such a talented individual is indeed a great regret in this world

Cheng Chumo stood tall and elegant, his feet firmly planted, exuding an air of mastery. Zhang Cheng, timid and hesitant, circled around Cheng Chumo, occasionally throwing punches, then palms, and then powerful eagle claws, yet he did not dare to strike at him.

Can it be done, could you please remove the character 'ma'? The salt that has been boiled out is better than what I used to eat, not inferior to Qing salt in the slightest

Yun Ye was nearly knocked off balance by such a shocking answer, looking at the imposing officer in front of him with a gaze of disbelief. He decided not to engage in any discussion related to science, as it would be the greatest harm to himself.

The coldness in Yun Ye's eyes slightly diminished; although this fellow was detestable, he was not of a bad heart and knew how to protect his subordinates. Coming from a family of generals, he was not lacking in means. However, his aristocratic face, which looked down on others, made Yun Ye extremely displeased. One cannot expect to gain benefits without paying a price

Cheng Chumo probably got tired of waiting: "You damn it, if you don't make a move soon, I'll beat you up."

The great army fights for the nation; our Tang men cast aside even life and death, so what significance does the mere method of salt production hold

Captain Cheng suppressed his anger, lifted the iron hammer, and struck twice, causing a large chunk of salt mine to tumble down

Cheng Chumo walked towards Yun Ye while saying to Zhang Cheng: "It is you who did not take action, not that I am trying to evade responsibility. Let’s clarify this to avoid tarnishing my reputation"

Yun Ye then realized that this rascal was only about sixteen or seventeen years old. As a martial general, he honed his muscles day after day, his physique robust, yet the youthful aura on his face was unmistakably evident

Zhang Cheng, covered in dirt, was rolling amidst the punches and kicks, but he noticed Yun Ye was about to leave. He crawled over, rolling and scrambling, and tightly hugged Yun Ye's legs, saying, "Young Master, you cannot leave. Please have pity on us, the ones who fight!" Tears streaming down his face, he continued, "Captain, I assure you with my head that Young Master Yun will definitely be able to extract edible salt from the brine!" He shouted hoarsely at the captain.

Less than five miles down the river, there is a salt mine. Captain Cheng brought along three hundred men, all of whom are robust and strong. The road is difficult, and large carts cannot pass through. Each person carried a share of the supplies from several large carts. Yun Ye, along with two women and Wang Cai, walked in the middle, and within less than an hour, they arrived at the salt extraction site

Esteemed senior, I kindly ask you to introduce me on my behalf. I will send someone back to Lanzhou to prepare generous gifts and request my father to pay a visit

Before Zhang Cheng could taste it, Colonel Cheng had already broken off a piece the size of a fingernail and stuffed it into his mouth. Despite his face twitching from the saltiness, he was reluctant to spit it out and showed no fear of turning into a bat. The other soldiers, seeing the method was effective, rushed towards the salt wall in a frenzy. Those without hammers used their knives to hack away, with Zhang Cheng being the most frenzied among them.

This scoundrel, with a mouth full of regrets and a face wrinkled like a bun, was completely betrayed by the excitement in his eyes. Yun Ye decided to ignore this hypocritical scoundrel and focus on the salt.

The water in the pot gradually evaporated completely, leaving a thick layer of bluish hard crust at the bottom. After removing the firewood, Yun Ye broke off a piece from the pot and threw it into his mouth, saying, "Hmm, not bad, this is salt. Uncle Zhang, you might as well throw that thing of yours into the river."

Looking down at Zhang Cheng, Yun Ye could no longer contain the anger in his chest. He kicked Zhang Cheng aside and strode up to the captain, saying: "Apologize and make amends to Uncle Zhang, otherwise, even if you chop off my head, you will not learn how to obtain salt!" After speaking, he coldly stared at him

Hit him

"Lord Colonel, your divine strength is astonishing; why not extract some salt mines? Such robust labor should not go to waste"

At the command of Lieutenant Cheng, a plot of land covering two acres was immediately leveled. After setting up the camp and arranging the equipment, Lieutenant Cheng turned his gaze towards Yun Ye

Yun Ye saw that the impurities had been thoroughly filtered out and it was time to detoxify. He took a large funnel and instructed Zhang Cheng to crush the charcoal. Before Zhang Cheng could act, Cheng Xiaowei had already taken the initiative to smash the charcoal into powder. It seemed that the changes in the solution had given him the confidence of success. Yun Ye carefully wrapped the charcoal particles in four layers of hemp cloth and tightly packed them into the funnel. He found a stand to secure the funnel and poured the solution into it. Before long, a light blue solution slowly flowed out. He scooped some out to taste; it was good, only salty with no bitterness. Although some salt was lost in the process, it could be guaranteed that the salt produced would be absolutely edible. Yun Ye set up a pot over the fire and poured the solution into the pot to simmer. Only then did he stand up, feeling sore in his back; was it easy to make some salt?

The officer wanted to speak with Yun Ye, but saw Yun Ye glancing at him sideways, thinking to himself: this kid is indeed petty. However, those with ability are often like this. I was reckless earlier; reflecting on this, he clasped his hands in salute: "Young master, your talent is remarkable, Cheng Chumo admires you greatly. Earlier, it was my lack of discernment, and I acted improperly; I hope you can forgive me. As for the wager, I, old Cheng, will settle it right away. Zhang Cheng, come over here!" Saying this, he removed his armor and helmet. He clasped his hands in salute: "Young master, your talent is remarkable, Cheng Chumo admires you greatly. Earlier, it was my lack of discernment, and I acted improperly; I hope you can forgive me. As for the wager, I, old Cheng, will settle it right away. Zhang Cheng, come over here!" Saying this, he removed his armor and helmet.

Lieutenant Cheng shivered slightly, Qingyan, that is not for eating, it is something used daily to cleanse the mouth with willow branches, costing at least 500 wen per pound. Even in a wealthy household, only a few masters use this Qingyan.

The officer was taken aback for a moment, then said decisively: "As you wish, if I cannot obtain the salt, I will personally sever your head to fulfill your vow"

Alas! Being looked down upon left Yun Ye feeling utterly desolate. For thousands of years, no matter how things have changed, even if thrown to Mars and books, the temperament of officials remains unchanged: self-righteous and self-important. Are these traits hereditary? The actions of the captain caused Yun Ye to lose all interest in doing anything. So be it, I am but a drifting entity beneath the vast sky, why concern myself with so many trivial matters

This means that the master has already passed away, and if you insist on seeing him, the only option left is to take the path of self-harm.

You just need to take a knife and cut your throat, and you will probably see your master very soon

Yun Ye chuckled lightly, disregarding the grim expression of the school officer. She turned and walked over to Zhang Cheng, checking to see that he was not seriously injured, which relieved her. Zhang Cheng, resembling a panda, was still grinning at her, but that face was no longer recognizable.

Why, in Longyou, is there no shortage of salt? Salt mines are not difficult to find. Have you never tried to find a way to produce salt from them?

Yun Ye felt that being slapped by Ai Cheng was no different from being hit with a hammer. Despite gritting his teeth and bearing it, he still had to accept his goodwill, which was truly difficult.

Brother, how did you know about this method

Hearing these words, Yun Ye felt a surge of blood rushing to his head, wishing he could directly bury this guy with a shovel. However, the disparity in status and rank that had seeped into his bloodline for thousands of years was not something he could overcome.

Zhang Cheng has shown me kindness; you have humiliated and beaten him. Regardless of the reason, nothing can quell the anger in my heart. I challenge you to a bet: if you cannot retrieve the salt, Yun Ye will present his head to you. If you do retrieve it, you must allow Zhang Cheng to beat you up without retaliating. What do you say?

The officer gradually calmed down and said: "Last night at the third watch, the cavalry of the two armies returned to the city, knocking on the gates at midnight. This is the first time this has happened in my region. It was only when the two men were hoisted up to the city gate in a basket that I learned someone could extract salt from brine. I reported this to the General of the Left Martial Guard overnight, and upon hearing this, the General was overjoyed. If this method succeeds, not only will our army no longer lack salt, but we can also quell the rebellion of the Qiang people with ease, and even sell salt to the Tuyuhun, who are in conflict with the Tubo primarily over salt. This could make them a buffer state for our Great Tang. Therefore, I left the city under the stars, bringing all the necessary equipment, and rode swiftly here, only to find a child boasting loudly. If this method succeeds, not only will our army no longer lack salt, but we can also quell the rebellion of the Qiang people with ease, and even sell salt to the Tuyuhun, who are in conflict with the Tubo primarily over salt. This could make them a buffer state for our Great Tang. Therefore, I left the city under the stars, bringing all the necessary equipment, and rode swiftly here, only to find a child boasting loudly. How could I not be angry? Zhang Cheng's false report on military matters is a crime that cannot be pardoned. I am now beating him, hoping to show the General that I have punished him, so that he may be spared from death, yet you still refuse to yield."

Zhang Cheng was dawdling as he moved this way, which ignited Yun Ye's anger, prompting him to push him next to Cheng Chumo

The cart has arrived, and the supplies are abundant. In addition to salt-making sieves, hammers, iron rods, hemp cloth, charcoal, wooden barrels, iron pots, there are even five hand-cranked stone mills. Upon careful inspection, nothing needed is missing.

Good fellow, Cheng Chumo patted Yun Ye's shoulder heavily and said, "I, Cheng, recognize you as my brother. When we return to Chang'an, I will introduce you to a few other brothers, all of whom are outstanding men."

Are you sure you want to meet the family teacher

The salt was scooped out of the pot, approximately two to three pounds in weight. This is much more efficient than extracting salt from seawater, where sixteen pounds of ore yields only three pounds of salt, which is already quite good. Cheng Chumo picked it up and weighed it, saying, "Three pounds, good. This salt mine could produce several million pounds of salt. Haha, my army will no longer suffer from a lack of salt. Brother Yun, please allow me to pay my respects to you."

"Is it possible?" Commander Cheng asked tremulously as he watched the solution bubbling and frothing in the pot.

What does this mean, brother

Zhang Cheng's legs went weak and he knelt down, crying and sniffling, saying: "You might as well hit me again; I truly don't have the courage to hit you."

There are antidotes for snake venom; is there really no way to counteract the poison of brine?

Taught by my esteemed teacher

Arrive in half an hour

One cannot expect to have soldiers consume salt only to counteract poison each time

Where is the thing I wanted