Phung Tien Has Fallen

After all, this could only be explained by immortal methods.

A few catties of crude salt, after a bout of busy work and one night, had turned into the current fine salt. How could ordinary mortals know this method? Only immortal gods from the heavens could achieve it.

If Tran Mac were to start an "Immortal God Sect" at this moment, Han Vu would absolutely be the first to become his loyal believer.

"Go, gather all the idle patrol team members to collect seashells. Each person who collects two catties or more of seashells, their family will be provided with rice for the night," Tran Mac said.

"Yes."

Han Vu responded. Just as he was about to leave, Tran Mac called him back again and asked him to call a few more people. Vote

Since the experiment was successful and the method was not difficult, mass production could begin. Tran Mac wanted to build a proper brick kiln for calcining limestone.

The evening sun slanted west.

The setting sun dyed the clouds red.

In a single day, Tran Mac not only had people build a partitioned lime kiln but also refined all the crude salt in his house into refined salt, obtaining thirty catties of refined salt.

And under the lure of being able to feed their families, the patrol team found enough seashells to pile up to nearly half the courtyard.

Apart from Tran Mac having some crude salt on hand, the crude salt the villagers had was only enough for their daily needs.

Therefore, after the lime kiln was built, Tran Mac became idle.

Four days later, in the afternoon.

The weather was overcast.

Time had moved to the middle of the third month.

Tran Mac was practicing his saber in the courtyard.

[Saber swing count +1, Pha Ma Saber Technique experience +1.]

[Name: Tran Mac.] [Age: 17.] [Cultivation Technique: Tu Duong Hoa Nguyen Cong (Initiate 1339.1/3000).] [Realm: Organ Refining (Seventh Grade).] [Strength: 135.] [Skill: Pha Ma Saber Technique (Perfection 489996/1000000).]

Beside him, Vuong Binh was reporting on today's work: "Today, six more households arrived from Thanh Dinh County, a total of twenty-seven people, five able-bodied young men. Among them, one is a carpenter. According to what Immortal Master Tran said before, after they register, each household is allocated two mu of land."

Tran Mac nodded.

These past few days, the village received several households daily. The deserters from Thanh Dinh County were approaching saturation.

"Same as before, assign all these five able-bodied young men to the patrol team," Tran Mac said.

Just as he finished speaking, a flurry of urgent footsteps sounded from outside the courtyard.

Tong Man ran into the courtyard, saying: "Brother Mac, Brother Thuy and the others are back."

Hearing this, Tran Mac's eyes lit up, and he said: "Quickly have them come see me."

There was no need for Tong Man to inform them.

After Truong Ha returned, he immediately, without stopping, brought Ho Thuong Sinh and the others to Tran Mac's house.

Tran Mac was waiting in the courtyard. Seeing Truong Ha and the others, he directly went to greet them: "This trip to Tuyen Duong County, was it smooth?"

"Reporting to Brother Mac, everything went smoothly," Truong Ha said.

"Come in."

Tran Mac led the group into the living room and had them sit down. After Tong Man poured tea for them, she went to the kitchen to help Han An Nuong.

Truong Ha placed a bundle on the table and opened it. Inside was a jar of wine. The men following him also put down their bundles.

Truong Ha said: "Brother Mac, all the furs were sold in Tuyen Duong County, totaling 13 taels of silver. Apart from the expenses on the road, the remaining silver, according to Brother Mac's instructions, was used to buy a jar of strong liquor, and the rest was used to purchase grain."

Saying this, Truong Ha took out an account book from his bosom, which recorded the detailed expenses.

Tran Mac took the account book but didn't look at it, saying: "Brother Thuy, I trust you."

After speaking, his gaze shifted to Ho Thuong Sinh: "Uncle Ho, how did the matter I entrusted to you go?"

"The fur and meat business was easy enough. I found an acquaintance in Tuyen Duong County. In the future, our furs and wild game meat can all be sold to them, and the price is fair. It's just this salt..."

Saying this, Ho Thuong Sinh showed some difficulty, "The salt smuggler in Tuyen Duong County used to be called Chu Vinh Tai, but he's dead now. When I went to his house, his son refused to admit that his family had ever smuggled salt. Therefore, I don't know if his son has taken over his father's business."

"It's highly probable he has taken over. Smuggling salt is a capital offense; you can't just stop midway if you want to. You can't wash your hands of it." Saying this, Tran Mac then asked about Chu Vinh Tai's family situation.

"That I don't know. I didn't even get to go in, but his family courtyard is very large," Ho Thuong Sinh said.

Tran Mac's fingers gently tapped the table. He then stood up, went into the room, and brought out a pottery jar. Opening the jar, he poured some refined salt onto the table, saying: "You guys try it."

Ho Thuong Sinh and Truong Ha both dipped a finger and tasted it. Their expressions immediately changed in surprise: "This is salt? But why is there no bitter and astringent taste?"

"Correct, this is salt. It's refined salt that I've purified using immortal methods," Tran Mac said.

Since the villagers already believed he was an immortal reincarnated, Tran Mac simply didn't explain, presenting himself as an immortal.

Hearing this, Ho Thuong Sinh was slightly shaken: "Truly worthy of being Immortal Master."

"Uncle Ho, with your knowledge, how much do you think this refined salt can sell for?" Tran Mac asked.

Ho Thuong Sinh thought for a moment and said: "Currently, crude salt in Tuyen Duong County sells for one hundred and twenty wen per catty. Such fine salt, and refined by immortal methods, should sell for at least one guan per catty."

"Hiss." Truong Ha sucked in a breath of cold air.

Tran Mac also frowned. If he bought crude salt and refined it, not counting the loss during refinement, reselling it would yield a tenfold profit.

However, this kind of refined salt was a high-grade product, destined for customers who were not ordinary commoners.

And smuggled salt couldn't be sold openly.

After some deliberation, Tran Mac said: "Uncle Ho, how about this: you all rest for a day. The day after tomorrow, make another trip to Tuyen Duong County. Take this jar of refined salt, find Chu Vinh Tai's son, and talk to his son about a partnership. If his son agrees, it means his son has taken over Chu Vinh Tai's business."

The day after tomorrow, Ho Thuong Sinh set off again. This time, not only did Truong Ha go, but Ho Cuong also went along, bringing an additional thirty skilled men.

Five days later, Ho Thuong Sinh's group returned, carrying large and small bundles.

Chu Vinh Tai's son, Chu Vinh Chi, had indeed taken over Chu Vinh Tai's "business." He bought all thirty catties of refined salt that Ho Thuong Sinh brought, at a price of eight hundred wen per catty.

And Chu Vinh Chi couldn't possibly only earn two hundred wen. One guan per catty for refined salt was just Ho Thuong Sinh's estimated price. Chu Vinh Chi could decide the actual selling price himself.

Afterward, Chu Vinh Chi sold Ho Thuong Sinh two hundred catties of crude salt, at seventy wen per catty.

And from this, Ho Thuong Sinh told Tran Mac, Chu Vinh Chi could still earn a profit of fifty wen per catty of crude salt.

Because salt smuggling, apart from risking one's head, was a business of making a fourfold profit on one's capital.

While Tran Mac's salt business was gaining momentum.

At the Binh Dinh County yamen, Thuong Vien's face was downcast, looking worse than if he had eaten a fly.

This morning, he had received a report from the front.

Phung Tien... had fallen...