Ch 81: Is It Enough?

The next morning.

Dark clouds obscured the dawn, the sky was dark and gloomy.

But it didn’t affect Manshu’s mood at all.

Full of curiosity, he hurriedly finished his breakfast and came to the manor early to wait.

Rhode, who had woken up early, didn’t waste any time. After meeting Manshu, he took him to the wooden house behind the manor.

Quicklime was scattered around the wooden house, specifically used for damp-proofing.

The center of the wooden house was piled high with goods, covered with a large piece of oilcloth.

Rhode casually waved his hand and gestured with his eyes.

Gangler beside him immediately understood and quickly stepped forward, lifting the oilcloth from the wooden bucket.

Then, Gangler moved the nearest bucket to Manshu, and opened the lid.

Manshu looked at the glistening crystals inside, clearly stunned for a moment,

“This is… salt?”

Manshu hesitantly reached out, his fingertips lightly touching a bit of the crystal, cautiously placing it on the tip of his tongue to taste.

Immediately his eyes lit up, he exclaimed joyfully: “It’s really salt!”

He quickly looked up at the warehouse; countless buckets were neatly arranged, more than a hundred buckets!

Each bucket of salt usually weighs between 180 and 220 jin, which means there are nearly 20,000 jin of salt here!

“All of this is salt?!”

Although Manshu knew the answer, he couldn’t help but ask.

“Of course.”

Rhode said with a calm smile, “Actually, the output isn’t high. This is specially kept for you.

Because at present, I trust you, my friend.”

He gently patted Manshu on the shoulder, “You should understand what I mean.”

“I understand, thank you for your trust.”

Manshu couldn’t help but bow in thanks.

Salt mines in the coastal Western Province and Eastern Province are not very valuable. Residents in coastal areas can easily obtain sufficient salt using seawater.

Sunlight and seawater, gifts from nature, ensure that people there never worry about salt supplies.

Nearby areas therefore do not lack salt.

But most parts of the Northern Province are inland, and the few remaining coastlines are tightly enclosed by continuous mountain ranges.

Blocked by natural barriers, it is basically impossible to obtain salt from the sea.

This makes salt mines very precious, no less than other metal ore veins.

After all, salt is a daily necessity, it’s impossible to live without it.

The pain of salt deficiency is not just a monotonous sense of taste, but also a matter of life and death.

Therefore, after a salt mine is discovered in a territory, it is easily coveted by other Lords.

Of course, if the salt mine is located in the clearly defined center of a territory, the existence of Empire law prevents Noble Lords from openly vying for it.

But this does not prevent them from using dark and subtle methods to seek profit.

The most common method is to pretend to be or secretly fund bandit groups to rob.

In this way, they can get what they want while maintaining a superficial appearance of innocence.

These things are well known to the Nobles, so after discovering a salt mine in their territory, they will keep it as secret as possible, selling it secretly through reliable channels to minimize the risk.

Manshu knew very well that Rhode’s current actions truly showed his trust, so he suddenly bowed solemnly.

Rhode smiled and nodded, saying, “I think this is enough to pay for the slaves and livestock?”

“You’re joking, half of this salt is enough, and I need to pay extra for the rest.”

Manshu felt that the gold coins he carried might not be enough, and smiled helplessly: “No wonder you asked me to keep all the goods.”

So much salt would completely fill Manshu’s caravan, and might even require extra vehicles for transport.

Thinking of this, Manshu even began to worry about encountering a bandit group.

“Don’t worry, there are other goods, you will definitely be interested.”

Looking at Rhode’s mysterious smile, Manshu’s curiosity was piqued again.

What else could make a merchant like himself happier than salt?

Until he was led by Rhode to the nearby wooden house, and saw piles of new paper in the boxes, he was stunned.

Manshu’s reaction was similar to Lusen’s at the time, both were shocked.

But as a merchant, Manshu didn’t question the quality of the new paper, and eagerly asked Rhode,

“How much of this new paper do you have? What is the price?”

Lusen was a spellcaster, and judged the value of the new paper more based on his own needs.

As a merchant, Manshu’s mind was filled with the needs of different people, the flow and changes of the market.

The price and output of the new paper would determine who it could serve—would it only satisfy the luxury of the Nobles, or could it become a practical item for ordinary people?

Rhode replied, “60 copper coins a sheet, and you can buy about 40,000 sheets.”

“Indeed”

Manshu’s eyes lit up, then he lowered his head and began to think seriously.

Rhode was not in a hurry, his hands behind his back, quietly waiting, giving Manshu ample time to think.

After a long time, Manshu raised his head and said, “I have to admit, Baron, your new paper has given me a lot to think about.

I think many places will need it, especially the Empire’s Nobles.

With this new paper, the parchment we use now will be replaced in many ways.”

“It’s just that your price is a little painful.”

Manshu smiled wryly and helplessly: “Your 60 copper coins per sheet has squeezed out all my profit.

Of course, I will still buy it at this price, but I can only buy 5,000 sheets for the Merchant Guild’s use.”

The new paper may not be immediately accepted by the market, and Manshu doesn’t have much profit margin after acquiring it at 60 copper coins a sheet.

Therefore, from a commercial point of view, new paper is not a particularly ideal commodity.

But for the Merchant Guild’s daily use, recording accounts and communication, this price is just right, balancing cost and efficiency.

Rhode smiled and asked, “You just want a wholesale price from me?”

“Yes, I need more profit.”

Manshu honestly requested.

“Then how many sheets do you want?” Rhode pressed.

“All of them.”

Manshu said without hesitation, and then added: “But please give me a little bit of profit.”

His voice was soft, with a hint of pleading.

“Mm, I understand.”

Rhode’s pricing at the time was indeed based on the market price, and did not leave any profit margin for other merchants.

Lusen didn’t care, because he was buying it for his own use, and sixty copper coins was acceptable.

But Manshu was going to push the new paper to the market. If he bought it for sixty copper coins, he would have to sell it for at least seventy or eighty copper coins a sheet.

But at this price, the advantage over traditional parchment would be lower, which might hinder the sales of new paper.

“Then let’s do this, give you a profit of two copper coins per sheet, 40,000 sheets will also have a net profit of eight gold coins.”

Because he was facing Manshu, Rhode was not stingy, and said frankly: “If you sell it for sixty-five copper coins a sheet, you’ll have a profit of twenty-eight gold coins.”

“Thank you very much!”

Manshu’s face was full of joy, and he hurriedly bowed his thanks.