Chapter One, Eight Hundred Li of Urgent Dispatch

This child is of an age similar to that of my late nephew, so Master, please be sure to take note of this carefully

Zhu Di naturally sent people to investigate carefully, and the information obtained was no different from that of Yao Guangxiao

Young Master Zhu, rest assured, this snowflake salt is so crystalline and completely devoid of any bitterness. Now that it has the support of His Highness, it will undoubtedly face no obstacles in Beiping.

As for Zhu Ying, Ma Sanbao also has a favorable impression of him; he is merely a eunuch and inevitably faces some unusual glances.

In Beiping, with so many people, Your Highness does not know how to distribute this little bit of snowflake salt

The only difference lies in the processing techniques; by subjecting rock salt to secondary processing, one can obtain this flake salt

If it were not for the fact that I, the king, am fully aware that my elder brother has never engaged in any scandalous affairs outside, I would certainly believe that this must be an illegitimate child of my elder brother.

The only way is to adopt an import model, selling to the Ming government in the name of foreign merchants to obtain profits

The twenty-fifth year of the Hongwu era, the twenty-eighth day of the fourth month

Many of the multiple scouts sent out have disappeared in the vast grasslands

This more than a hundred pounds of snowflake salt would be more than sufficient for the Yan Wang Mansion alone; however, when it comes to supplying the entire elite of Beiping, it becomes somewhat inadequate.

Three months ago, during a visit to the city, he first met Zhu Ying and sought various ways to befriend her, subsequently contacting Prince Yan, Zhu Di

The distribution of this snowflake salt can only be arranged by the Yan Wang Mansion, and Ma Sanbao is the primary person in charge

After ensuring that the supply to the Prince Yan's residence is not affected, the remaining quantities of each household, whether more or less, hold significant intricacies that warrant careful consideration

Ma Sanbao politely said to Zhu Ying

The three treasures mentioned by Zhu Di refer to the later Zheng He, who had not yet been granted the surname 'Zheng' and was originally named Ma He

Zhu Ying looked at Zhu Di in front of her, and for a moment, she couldn't help but feel a sense of nostalgia.

Yao Guangxiao said calmly

I will do my best, but this snowflake salt is precious and produced in limited quantities. Moreover, with bandits rampant in the border areas, having over one hundred jin delivered to Beijing is already a challenging task

Well then, I will trouble Master Zhu a great deal

Zhu Di's voice was extremely flat, yet Yao Guangxiao could sense the hidden message within it

In the distance, one could see a person galloping wildly in the center of the main road, simultaneously shouting loudly:

Having collaborated with this king for such a long time, this king naturally trusts you. As for the details, you may discuss them with Sanbao.

Having arrived in the Ming Dynasty for already ten years, who would have thought that he could sit before the Yongle Emperor and speak so freely

Faced with the attitude of King Yan, Yao Guangxiao felt quite gratified

In fact, this snowflake salt was originally produced by Zhu Ying according to methods from later generations, and it can be made in any quantity desired

However, in Zhu Ying's eyes, he felt a respect that treated him as an equal

Sanbao then followed, slightly bowing to Zhu Di, and left together with Zhu Ying to discuss the details of the transaction

Those rural villagers do not yet possess the ability to fabricate such lies

Every time Ma Sanbao faced those noisy noble attendants, he felt an unbearable headache

After Yao Guangxiao finished speaking, he sighed again, saying: "This child is indeed born at the wrong time; possessing such intelligence and cleverness, yet he was born into a merchant's family."

After the figures of the two individuals disappeared from sight, Zhu Di then sighed to Yao Guangxiao, "Even though I have seen them many times, every time I encounter them, I find it truly incredible."

Beiping, Yan Wangfu, clear

In the name of trade, engage in extensive cooperation with Zhu Ying, delaying matters within the boundaries of Beiping

If Master Zhu can accomplish this matter, the pricing issue can be easily negotiated

In this case, it can only be considered an import; even if the officials and merchants of the Ming Dynasty are envious, they are powerless to do anything about it

The Yan King certainly dispatched individuals to investigate the source of this snowflake salt, but the movements of the foreign merchants are exceedingly secretive, and it appears that there is a formidable hidden force protecting this matter

After a long while, he finally spoke, saying: "We must do everything possible to ensure that this child does not leave Beiping."

However, the blood and storm in this salt trade are not something to be discussed with outsiders

This quantity is indeed somewhat insufficient. I would appreciate it if Young Master Zhu could inform those foreign merchants to see if they could supply a bit more, considering the share involved

Hearing this, Zhu Di fell silent for a moment, and after a while, he spoke in a deep voice: "This matter must be confirmed repeatedly"

"Thank you, His Highness Prince Yan, then I shall take my leave first," Zhu Ying said with a smile, remaining neither servile nor arrogant even in the presence of Zhu Di

Some of these details are crucial to the reputation of His Highness, the Prince of Yan

Eight hundred miles in urgent haste, those who obstruct me shall die

Yet he always harbored a sense of unease, primarily because Zhu Ying not only bore a seven-part resemblance in appearance, but more importantly, shared a scholarly disposition that was strikingly similar to that of his elder brother, Zhu Biao.

Unable to ascertain the source, even a large army would be powerless to act

Your Highness, rest assured, although this matter is somewhat distant in time, after several months of investigation by this humble monk, I can guarantee that the details regarding this individual are clear.

In this world, there are indeed two individuals who resemble each other so closely

However, Zhu Ying is merely a small merchant, and the temperament of a scholar is not something a businessman can possess

Both salt and iron are exclusively sold by the government, and no matter how capable Zhu Ying is, it is impossible for her to take out the snowflake salt and sell it herself

... ...

Zhu Di looked at Zhu Ying and said with a smile, appearing relatively gentle in demeanor

Upon hearing this, Yao Guangxiao also felt somewhat emotional: "The first time I saw him, I was astonished, thinking he was a celestial being. Later, upon careful investigation, I confirmed that this young man has no connection whatsoever with His Highness the Crown Prince."

However, the Ming Dynasty regulated private salt production. After conducting some research, Zhu Ying recruited a group of foreign merchants as his subordinates, and the salt production areas were also established outside the territory of the Ming Dynasty

Zhu Ying wore a look of nostalgia, her eyes shimmering with memories, as if recalling the arduous past of salt transportation.

This child will be of great use in the future

I am merely a facilitator, having dealt with those foreign merchants for a long time, I have also gained their trust

This child was born in the fifth year of the Hongwu era, two years earlier than Your Highness's nephew. Although his parents have passed away many years ago, he is well-known to everyone in the village.

It is precisely at this moment that the sound of galloping hooves comes from the end of the street

After listening, Zhu Di did not respond directly but fell into deep thought

After Zhu Ying stood up, like Zhu Di, he left after Master Dao Yan, Yao Guangxiao, beside Zhu Di, signaled to him.

Ma Sanbao stated that once this snowflake salt was introduced to the market, it was frantically sought after by various nobles in Beiping, yet the quantity brought by Zhu Ying each time was merely a little over one hundred jin

Ma Sanbao said helplessly

Anyone who sees Zhu Biao and Zhu Ying would find it hard to believe that these two individuals have no relation to each other

It is even more imperative that this child does not go to the capital; if someone from the capital arrives, they must not be seen by him

It is not because of his identity; the superficial flattery genuinely regards him as a real man

Zhu Di nodded gently in acknowledgment

If it were not for this, it would surely not be difficult to become a successful candidate. If fortunate enough to enter the palace examination and be seen by Your Majesty, with this appearance, achieving the top scholar would be a certainty

Even His Highness the Crown Prince would be particularly fond of this child