Large Order Completed, Protection of a Peerless Expert

Zhao Cheng didn't act like a high-ranking elder of a major sect, but greeted Lin Ze warmly and introduced himself.

As an experienced figure in the Martial World, he deeply understood the principle that everyone helps to carry the sedan chair.

If he wasn't planning to immediately turn hostile, it was best to maintain a peaceful attitude as much as possible, no matter who he was facing.

Because you never knew if the seemingly humble and slovenly ordinary person in front of you might be a Peerless Expert playing in the mortal world.

You never knew if the young man you looked down upon had martial arts that had reached perfection, an old monster who had regained his youth, or was hiding some terrifying trump card that could take you away.

These were experiences that the predecessors of Bright Moon Pavilion had summarized with blood lessons over many years of inheritance.

Therefore, Zhao Cheng always treated people kindly when traveling in the Martial World, and once he made a move, he would definitely strike to kill.

What's more, Zhao Cheng had come to find Lin Ze for cooperation this time.

This concerned whether he could earn more silver, and whether he could accumulate merit to learn Peerless Divine Art, so Zhao Cheng was communicating with Lin Ze with a completely equal attitude.

"So it's Senior Zhao Cheng, Junior Lin Ze, courtesy name Zi Yi, greetings, Mr. Zhao Boyan."

Lin Ze cupped his fist and bowed slightly in return, showing great respect to the old senior in the Martial World.

As he spoke, Lin Ze relaxed a little.

He moved the mental power covering the rocket launcher in his Personal Space to the firearms next to it.

Since they weren't here to cause trouble, there probably wouldn't be a fight.

Being ready to draw a gun and counterattack at any time was just out of Lin Ze's usual caution.

At this time, Lin Ze had roughly guessed the intention of this Bright Moon Pavilion elder, mostly because of the coal matter.

To be honest, when Lin Ze saw a Bright Moon Pavilion elder coming to his door, he thought he had been discovered for secretly filming Bright Moon Pavilion. He was ready to directly pull out a rocket launcher and fire a shot, and then, regardless of the result, use the firelight to cover his escape.

Now it seemed that he didn't have to be so embarrassed.

"Mr. Zhao Boyan has come from afar, Junior should host a banquet to welcome Senior and wash away the dust, please come inside."

After greeting, Lin Ze invited Zhao Cheng and Xu Sheng into the house.

In the living room, the two sides sat down as host and guest.

After the servants served tea and retreated, the two sides exchanged pleasantries for a while, and the cook brought up the prepared dishes and set the banquet.

The three began to eat.

This time, no Chicken Essence was added, after all, Xu Sheng had already been treated before, and he wasn't very familiar with this Zhao Cheng.

After three rounds of wine and five flavors of dishes, Zhao Cheng began to explain his purpose: "Today, I heard from my nephew Xu Sheng that Young Hero Lin has opened a Coal Mine industry, producing more than twenty million catties of coal every day, I wonder if this is true?"

Lin Ze nodded and said, "That's right, because I couldn't buy fields to pass on to future generations, I tried to set up this Coal Mine. Today, I paid a large sum of salary to tens of thousands of miners in the entire Coal Mine, and after accounting, I lost tens of thousands of taels of silver."

Speaking of this, Lin Ze sighed, and then continued:

"Now I'm stuck here, it's not an option to close the Coal Mine, and it's not an option to continue opening it."

"Only when more people use coal, and they all develop the habit of using coal instead of firewood, can I make a small profit in the future and slowly recover the silver I'm investing now."

"May I ask if Mr. Zhao Boyan wants to buy coal?"

Lin Ze opened his mouth and said he was losing money hand over fist.

Opening a coal mine doesn't make any money at all; I'm doing a good deed.

Although Zhao Cheng knew he was probably talking nonsense.

However, the initial investment in coal mining is huge, and most of the silver earned from coal sales has to be paid to the miners as wages, which is indeed visible to the naked eye.

If coal mining were really that easy to make money, the Great Zhou Dynasty wouldn't have developed a large-scale habit of using coal after so many years.

Zhao Cheng could see that Lin Ze was wary of him, so he immediately claimed to be losing money.

But to be honest, Zhao Cheng had no intention of seizing the coal mine.

Although martial strength is the foundation for ensuring safety and one's own interests, it is not everything in life.

Zhao Cheng clearly knew that many existences not as powerful as you might not have the ability to accomplish things, but it is very easy to ruin your affairs.

Lin Ze's confidence in making money from opening a coal mine is his ability; anyway, he asked himself that he didn't have this ability, nor did he have the time to manage the coal mine.

Honestly buying coal is enough to earn a lot of silver.

"An annual supply of at least one billion catties of coal, is that possible?"

Zhao Cheng asked.

One billion catties of coal is 500,000 tons of coal.

This is easy, because Lin Ze's coal mine has a theoretical annual output of 3 to 4 million tons. If he continues to increase the number of miners, the output can continue to increase.

Bright Moon Pavilion buying 500,000 tons of coal can be used as daily fuel, and the rest can be stored or used to refine armor and weapons.

Firewood should not be stored for too long, but these coals can be stored for as long as you want. Buying more and placing them on Crescent Moon Island can be used in case of emergency.

"This matter is not difficult. Currently, the daily coal production in the coal mine is extremely stable."

Lin Ze nodded.

"Okay, let's sign the contract. Starting tomorrow, I will arrange for people to come to Fengping County Wharf to transport coal."

Zhao Cheng directly decided.

If he makes this deal, he will have hope of learning Peerless Divine Art next year.

"Mr. Zhao Boyan, don't you want to take a look at my coal mine before making a decision? What if I'm talking nonsense?"

Lin Ze reminded him.

"No need. Firstly, the sample coal that your Xu Sheng nephew brought has 200,000 catties. Secondly, when I came, I saw a large amount of coal piled up at the wharf guarded by the Cao Gang people. Thirdly, Young Hero Lin is a steady person. If there is no sufficient output, I think you would not easily agree to me."

Zhao Cheng smiled and shook his head.

After a pause, Zhao Cheng added half as a warning: "Moreover, although our Bright Moon Pavilion can be regarded as a famous and upright sect and will not easily suppress or bully fellow Martial World cultivators, we will not be soft-hearted towards those who dare to deceive us."

Lin Ze didn't pay attention to the warning in the second half of the sentence, and nodded with a smile, "I see, Mr. Zhao Boyan is indeed meticulous."

Immediately, without further delay, he began to write the contract.

It was agreed that Lin Ze's Black Stone Village Coal Mine and Affairs Elder Zhao Cheng, represented by Zhao Boyan of the Bright Moon Pavilion, would set a price of one copper coin for five catties, for a total order of one billion catties of coal.

The settlement method was cash on delivery.

"You won't help us load the ships, and you won't even deliver to the dock?"

Looking at the contract, Zhao Cheng frowned.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Zhao Boyan, our ex-factory price for coal is already very low. After deducting operating costs, there isn't much profit left. It's more than forty li from the Black Stone Village Coal Mine to the dock. If we help deliver it to the dock, we'll really lose money."

Lin Ze said apologetically.

He was telling the truth. In this era, carts and horses were very important means of production, and ordinary people couldn't afford them.

Using carts to transport coal to the dock, the transportation cost for forty li was basically one copper coin for five catties.

This was under the condition of a flat road. If there were slopes and bumps, the transportation fee would most likely increase.

Generally, a cart and horse could transport about three thousand catties a day, earning more than six hundred copper coins.

It seemed like a lot, but livestock doing such heavy physical work needed to eat a lot of concentrated feed and salt to make up for their physical exertion. In addition, the cart would also wear out. After conversion, it would be good to earn three hundred copper coins a day.

Previously, the villagers of Two Rivers Village helped him deliver Matsutake for more than ten li of mountain road at a price of one copper coin for forty catties, which was a friendly price for small-volume transportation and could not be regarded as a normal calculation.

The transportation cost for one billion catties of coal alone would be two hundred thousand taels of silver, while the Bright Moon Pavilion only paid two hundred thousand taels for these coals. This really couldn't be given as a benefit for a large business deal.

And this kind of situation where the freight was equal to or even more expensive than the price of the goods themselves was a common occurrence in agricultural societies.

Even in the Main World with stronger transportation capabilities, the freight for transporting vegetables and fruits would still be about 10% to 20% of the cost.

Hearing this, Zhao Cheng frowned.

He thought the coal mine was not far from the dock, at most two or three li, so he proposed that Lin Ze deliver the coal to the dock. If the distance exceeded forty li, then it was indeed impossible to deliver.

"Six hundred million catties of coal, a budget of four hundred thousand taels of silver, then for one billion catties of coal, it's not too much to ask the sect for a budget of seven hundred thousand taels of silver. The sect will also make huge profits by using these coals to refine more armor and weapons."

"Deducting the two hundred thousand taels for buying coal cannot be less, and then transporting it from Fengping County to Crescent Moon Island, loading and unloading the ship, will cost about two hundred thousand taels."

"Transporting from the coal mine to the dock, hiring outsiders is certainly very expensive, but organizing our own carts, horses, and drivers can probably be solved within fifteen thousand taels. When the time comes, we can do some accounting to cover up the extra budget, then I'll have one hundred and fifty thousand taels left, which is more than I estimated before. This business is worth doing."

After a little thought, Zhao Cheng turned his gaze to Xu Sheng beside him:

"Junior Nephew Xu Sheng, it seems this matter will trouble you."

"Next, you don't need to buy boats to pull the coal back and forth between Fengping County and Coastal County. You will be responsible for recruiting people in Fengping County to pull the coal from the coal mine to the dock here, and hand it over to my Bright Moon Pavilion's ships."

"This matter won't let you work for nothing. I will give you one hundred and fifty thousand taels a year as transportation fee. If one billion catties of coal are safely delivered by this time next year, I will apply for the qualification to learn Superior Martial Arts for you."

Giving a fixed price of one hundred and fifty thousand taels was obviously saving tens of thousands of taels in transportation costs compared to normal.

Hearing this, Xu Sheng's face showed confusion.

It was a good thing to be able to learn Superior Martial Arts if he did well.

The problem was, could this transportation fee of one hundred and fifty thousand taels really successfully transport more than one billion catties of coal to the dock?

Subconsciously, Xu Sheng turned his gaze towards Lin Ze beside him.

At this moment, he also suddenly understood that the reason Zhao Cheng entrusted this matter to him was actually to have him, a trustworthy fellow disciple, act as a liaison, and work with Lin Ze, the local, to arrange for the completion of this matter.

"It can be done."

Lin Ze didn't speak, but nodded slightly in response to Xu Sheng.

If he were to transport it himself, he would simply buy a lot of cattle, horses, and carriages, and then hire drivers.

A cattle or horse-drawn cart for hauling goods would cost at most twenty taels of silver at most. Calculating that a cow works for just over three hundred days a year, transporting more than three thousand catties of goods per day, one thousand cows would be enough.

Adding in the unplanned surplus, 1,100 cattle and horse-drawn carts would be more than enough, with a total cost here of twenty-two thousand taels of silver.

Then there's the feed for the cattle and horses and the wear and tear on parts. Bulk purchases can greatly reduce costs, with a maintenance cost of 260 Wen per day at most, and cattle and horse-drawn carts don't need much feed or parts replacement when they're resting.

So this part of the cost is around twenty thousand taels of silver.

Finally, there's the expense of the drivers. A monthly salary of three taels is already considered high, without having to provide meals, costing around thirty-six thousand taels of silver per year.

After deducting costs, Xu Sheng can still have a profit of three to four thousand taels of silver a year. In the second year, without having to buy carts and horses, the profit will be much higher.

Aside from this, he can also earn merit for the sect, learn Superior Martial Arts, and achieve career advancement. This is indeed a business that can be done.

Zhao Cheng had already done these cost calculations beforehand, which is why he gave Xu Sheng a quote of Fifteen Thousand Taels of Silver a year.

"Then thank you for your care, Uncle-Master. This nephew will certainly live up to your trust and transport all the coal to the dock."

Xu Sheng bowed and accepted the assignment.

Seeing this, Zhao Cheng nodded in satisfaction.

He coordinates from the center.

He has all the work done by his subordinates and fellow disciples, and in the end, he only needs to supervise the smooth completion of the whole thing, so that one billion catties of coal are transported to Crescent Moon Island. Then the profit of Fifteen Thousand Taels of Silver per year and the future qualification to practice Peerless Divine Art will be secure.

This is much more comfortable and stable than fighting and killing to make money.

"Time is of the essence, so I won't stay any longer. I'll go back and dispatch the ships."

"Farewell, Zi Yi, Jingguan. I hope I can directly move coal at the dock tomorrow morning. If you encounter any trouble, you can take my seal to Coastal County to find me."

Zhao Cheng cupped his hands in farewell, completely unconcerned that it was already early morning.

Before leaving, he wrote a letter of credence for Lin Ze on the spot, implying that Lin Ze must maintain the supply of coal. If he encounters any unsolvable troubles, he can ask him to help out once.

After all, whether the coal can be successfully transported to Crescent Moon Island is closely related to Zhao Cheng's interests.

"Okay, then thank you very much, Mr. Boyan."

Lin Ze took the letter of credence and said with delight.

After these days of observation and learning at Bright Moon Pavilion, Lin Ze already knew that martial arts started with Strengthening the Foundation and Nourishing the Origin at the entry level, followed by the levels of Qi Nourishment, Vein Opening, Essence Solidification, Spirit Accumulation, Gang Qi, and Heaven and Man.

Qi Nourishment and Vein Opening are the level of second and third-rate Martial World practitioners, Essence Solidification is a first-rate expert, Spirit Accumulation is a super-class, Gang Qi is a Peerless Expert, and the Heaven and Man realm is a legendary existence unique to this world.

In Bright Moon Pavilion, to become an Elder, one must have at least the martial arts level of entering the Gang Qi realm, which is what people usually call a Peerless Expert.

Although Lin Ze doesn't yet know how to reach such a level, he already has a good understanding of the combat power of experts at this level. They are capable of charging through thousands of troops and taking the enemy commander's head.

That might sound a bit vague, so let's make a clearer comparison.

Because of the respect given to a Peerless Expert, even the emperor would change your death sentence to life imprisonment before that Peerless Expert dies.

Otherwise, the emperor himself might not be afraid, but he would need to be careful about the safety of his close subordinates, concubines, and their families.

Therefore, no matter what major power it is, they all adopt an attitude of not wanting to offend a Peerless Expert to the death, unless they are certain they can eliminate them.

And such a powerful promise to solve a problem for Lin Ze is naturally an extremely pleasant surprise, providing a full sense of security.

Seeking full subscriptions, seeking monthly tickets.