Chapter 0001: Grain for Gold

"Immortal, what do you think of this gold?" Zhao Yuanjin asked anxiously

Qin Feng had actually traversed time and space for the second time. The first time, he was completely unprepared, and in a state of panic and confusion, he did not stay long before returning to his original world, without alarming anyone here. When he came over for the second time, it was just as this governor was sighing deeply and wearing a worried expression in his study.

According to Zhao Yuanjin, what he presented was one hundred taels of gold, and Qin Feng did not doubt that he was deceiving him. It is normal for the measurements and weights of ancient times to differ from those of the present.

As of the first half of 2023, the market price of gold fluctuates around 360 yuan. The manager's quote is indeed quite high, but Qin Feng is too lazy to quibble and simply nods in agreement.

In times of chaos and contention, what conditions are the most important? Some say it is talent, others say it is financial resources, some argue it is territory, and others claim it is timing, each supported by considerable evidence.

Indeed, in the eyes of the military governor Zhao Yuanjin, this young man, who appeared in his study unexpectedly, dressed in peculiar attire and speaking with an unfamiliar accent, was the only lifeline he could currently rely on.

Qin Feng took out his phone to check the time; it was nearly noon at that moment. There was a time difference of about three to four hours with the other world, and it seemed that the passage of time also differed somewhat.

Very well, wait for me for two... no, one hour, and I will return

"This is something passed down from our ancestors; isn't it normal for the purity to be low?" Qin Feng said with a smile

The parallel world that Qin Feng traverses is similar to ancient Huaxia, but it is still unclear which specific period it belongs to; further understanding will be developed gradually in the future

Then, Qin Feng appeared

Qin Feng is certainly not the kind of unparalleled talent with the ability to change the world. What solutions could he possibly devise? Moreover, in the face of such a deadlock, even if figures like Guo Jia, Zhuge Kongming, or Liu Bowen were to be resurrected, they would also be powerless to turn the tide.

The bureaucratic subordinates under his command may be able to act in this manner, and perhaps when the main general of the court is in a good mood, they might even generously record a merit. However, if it were Zhao Yuanjin himself who came, the outcome would still be no different; at most, he would die a quicker death and could receive a complete corpse.

If it were not for the appearance of Qin Feng, his tragic end would have been virtually inevitable

The territory occupied by Zhao Yuanjin belongs to the prosperous Jiangnan region, and coupled with the considerable momentum he has generated, he has unfortunately attracted the attention of a large imperial army.

"Mr. ..., after testing, the purity of your gold is not very high, only a little over 90%" the manager said

In his eyes, this elusive young man must be the legendary immortal, right? Therefore, he attempted to request Qin Feng's assistance in devising a strategy to resolve the current predicament.

Outside the city walls of the county, the imperial court's tens of thousands of troops have besieged the city for many days. The supplies within the city are nearly exhausted, the morale of the people is wavering, and rumors are rampant. The fall of the city is likely imminent.

Qin Feng entered through the main door and approached the counter located towards the inner side. After exchanging a few words with the young attendant, the latter promptly called the manager, who politely invited him into the reception room inside

At that time, Zhao Yuanjin was deep in thought in his study, contemplating strategies to repel the enemy. The sudden appearance of this young man, who seemed to materialize like a ghost, startled him greatly, leading him to momentarily believe he was experiencing a hallucination

Voluntarily surrendering the city? In order to seek to preserve one's life?

Lufu Yuan Gold Shop

After several days of siege warfare, the troops under Zhao Yuanjin have suffered heavy casualties, with many dead and wounded. Now, the number of soldiers capable of fighting has dwindled to less than 5,000, and there are very few supplies left.

The frequency of transactions will be quite high in the future, and perhaps it would be wise to consider renting a warehouse as soon as possible, preferably in a discreet location in the suburbs he pondered silently

At first, relying on a bit of momentum, a touch of shrewdness, and a measure of indispensable luck, Zhao Yuanjin surprisingly achieved several victories. In just over a year, he successively captured two prefectures, then proclaimed himself as the military governor, established a system of ranks and titles, attracting numerous followers, and his forces rapidly expanded to over 30,000, truly exhibiting the semblance of a soaring dragon

Entering the bedroom, he turned around and locked the door, drawing the curtains. After confirming that there were no issues, in the next moment, his figure disappeared from the room

A moment later

"That is settled, I shall await your esteemed news with great anticipation," Zhao Yuanjin said earnestly

In the new century, one tael is equivalent to 50 grams. However, during the Qin and Han dynasties, one tael weighed just over 16 grams. From the Southern and Northern Dynasties to the Tang, Song, Ming, and Qing dynasties, the standards of measurement underwent multiple changes. In the early Ming period, the standard for one tael was approximately 37.5 grams.

A hoarse and deep voice slowly emerged, pulling his thoughts back.

Therefore, Zhao Yuanjin, fully aware that there was no turning back, chose to defend the city to the death. Relying on his fewer than 10,000 troops, he has fought fiercely against the imperial army for many days, and now he is on the brink of exhaustion and despair

Due to the limitations of smelting technology, the purity of gold in ancient times was generally not very high. Even the pure gold stored in the treasury of various dynasties fluctuated between 77% and 93%. Gold with a purity exceeding 93% was quite rare and cannot be compared to the modern standard of 999.9 gold.

Throughout history, numerous dynastic changes have been driven by a critical factor: the plight of countless landless and starving peasants who found themselves without means of livelihood. In their desperate quest for sustenance, they were compelled to rise in rebellion, killing officials and revolting against the wealthy in a bid to secure a means of survival

The manager nodded and said: "Since that is the case, excluding the impurities, I will calculate it at 280 yuan per gram, rounding it to a total of 960,000 yuan for you. After all, it is quite troublesome for us to take it for re-purification and processing."

After several military campaigns, this newly appointed governor, who had only recently risen to power, was ruthlessly brought back to his original state. He suffered heavy losses in troops and generals, ultimately finding himself besieged in the city of Jingnan, having completely lost the territory he had painstakingly acquired

Of course, he must successfully bring this item back, and then find suitable channels to safely dispose of it. Only after converting it into cash can he consider the issue of whether to buy a house or a car

The speaker is a man in his thirties, dressed in fine clothing, whose appearance is relatively handsome and strong. However, his complexion appears quite pale and haggard, with tightly furrowed brows and bloodshot eyes filled with hope as he gazes at him. It is as if a desperate drowning person is looking at the only lifeline available.

By that time, Zhao Yuanjin, the self-proclaimed governor of Cangshui and leader of the righteous army, faced the inevitable outcome of being executed along with his entire family, with his nine clans implicated, leaving him without a burial place, and there was no possibility of any escape from this fate

These statements are certainly not incorrect; however, in Qin Feng's view, the most fundamental condition lies in food supplies. Before the troops move, provisions must be in place. Without this essential resource, even a million-strong army would collapse in an instant.

He contemplated for a moment, rummaged through the cabinets to find an old electronic scale, and weighed the gold ingot. All ten gold ingots were of the same size, each weighing ten taels, approximately 385 grams.

With money in hand, the subsequent matters became straightforward. Qin Feng headed straight to the car rental market, spending money to rent a small sealed cargo van, and then drove it to the entrance of a large supermarket. Having obtained his driver's license right after graduating from high school, he had no trouble driving this vehicle

In the present day, the Great Qi Dynasty has been plagued by natural disasters for years, leaving the populace in dire straits. The court and the noble class have become utterly corrupt. Thus, since three years ago, the land has been engulfed in flames of war, with continuous conflicts and an endless stream of rebel armies emerging. A new round of heroes vying for supremacy and a change in the mandate of heaven has already begun.

I went in and bought thirty bags of rice and thirty bags of flour, all in ten-kilogram specifications, and they were the cheapest kind. I used a shopping cart to bring them out in several trips, and at the checkout, the total cost was just over 4,000 yuan. This can be considered a sample for that governor.

There is no way, he is the leader of the rebels, a notorious traitor officially recognized by the court. Anyone could potentially survive, but he must die!

Zhao Yuanjin is one of the many rebel armies formed by the displaced populace. Originally from a wealthy family and having once passed the imperial examination, he witnessed the impending demise of the court and the collapse of law and order, foreseeing a great upheaval in the world. Ultimately, unable to withstand the instigation of his close associates, he exhausted his family fortune to recruit soldiers and similarly raised a rebel force.

He had never eaten pork, but he had seen pigs run. Avidly fond of online literature, he had read countless novels about farming and competing in otherworldly settings. Faced with the current situation, he quickly identified the key point: food.

The taxi stopped at the entrance, and Qin Feng got out, taking a moment to survey the opulently decorated storefront. He took out his sunglasses from his pocket, put them on, and walked inside.

How to ... ... ?

He did not linger for long, took out a black backpack, and stuffed a wooden box filled with gold into it. After putting on a coat, he hurriedly left the house, hailed a taxi on the street outside the community, and headed towards the city center

With no reinforcements from outside and no provisions within, the insurmountable predicament drove this governor to the brink of despair, contemplating suicide several times. Yet, deep down, there remained an unyielding spirit that compelled him to grit his teeth and endure, hoping for the moment when a miracle might occur

Therefore, Qin Feng naturally put forward the request to exchange gold for grain, which, it must be said, is also a choice that maximizes his own interests

Qin Feng was about to say two hours, but then he realized that this was similar to an ancient parallel world of Huaxia, and immediately changed his words.

After a brief moment of fear, they discovered that they could barely understand each other's language. After a round of exchanges and responses, Qin Feng finally gained a general understanding of the situation in this world and also realized the dire predicament faced by Zhao Yuanjin

In another world, in a quiet study.

Between the light and the dark, the simple furnishings of the rental house reappeared before my eyes

Unfortunately, the good times did not last long. Although the court had decayed beyond recognition, the centipede, despite its death, did not stiffen. With the return of several veteran generals who had been sidelined for many years, they regained military power and led troops to quell rebellions and extinguish fires. Many short-sighted and ill-fated rebel and refugee groups were successively eradicated.

With a wave of his hand, a beam of clear light swept across, and the wooden box containing gold ingots on the table was already drawn into the dimensional space within his body. Immediately, Qin Feng's figure also vanished without a trace

Qin Feng's gaze was somewhat wandering; in his original world, this would at least signify hundreds of thousands in wealth. Even in an international metropolis like Binhai, this would be equivalent to the down payment for a house

Ten gold ingots are neatly arranged in an exquisite wooden box, radiating a mesmerizing luster under the illumination of the lights

Certainly, the jewelry store will also deduct a considerable handling fee, approximately 30 to 40 yuan per gram, which indeed seems quite excessive. However, given the current market practices, there is little room for negotiation.

Then, he moved the items into the vehicle, drove around the suburbs for a while, and stopped in a place that was rarely visited by people and had no surveillance cameras. He opened the back door of the truck, entered, and stored all sixty bags of grain into the dimensional space, then casually exited and drove back to his rented apartment

State-owned banks, well-known large gold stores, private gold shops, and numerous legal or illegal pawn shops can all recycle gold. However, to avoid attracting the attention of those with ulterior motives, banks are not suitable for this purpose, as they require formal invoice procedures. The prices at pawn shops fluctuate significantly, and without a personal introduction, one can easily be taken advantage of. Therefore, gold stores are the most appropriate choice.

By the time he left the main entrance of the jewelry store, his bank card had already increased by 960,000 Huaxia coins