Qingyu really didn't sleep well, and was extremely depressed and worried. The last batch of Mao Gong was handed over just in the first month of the year. It's not autumn yet, so why should he hand in next year's batch? And it’s only available before the end of September!
Of course Wu Sheng knew the reason. The Battle of Jiuzi had been fought for too long and the situation in Wu State was unknown. However, there were many situations in Chu State. In Yangzhou City, the elixirs that could be used in front of the army had been exhausted. This shows how fierce the fighting ahead is.
Moreover, Wu Sheng also knew who was the initiator of this edict. It must be Cui Ming. This man was in charge of Zuo Tu Mansion. When a new official took office, it was not strange to light a few fires. Otherwise, how could he serve the emperor? ? How can I truly obtain the position of Zuolang?
For Cui Ming, he not only gained merit, but also brought a big business to Wu Sheng, which was a little repayment. It was really killing two birds with one stone.
For Qingyu, the feeling is not so wonderful: "Another thousand gold Maogong is added to the four countries. This year is not comfortable! Is there any reason to advance the Maogong next year?"
Wu Shengxin said, "It's just a year of expedition. You have never seen anyone who has conquered Maogong for the next hundred years in advance. You will get used to it by then."
Of course, there was no need to scare Qingyu at this time, so he said: "Still those things? Then I'll start refining them right away!"
Qingyu said: "Seven hundred Wushen Pills, two hundred Jingning Pills, one hundred Rhubarb Pills, and five hundred Shenggu Pills... Although the price of Yangzhou Spiritual Pills has increased sharply, Zuotu Mansion has reduced it by 500 pills. It’s a magical elixir, but it’s also really a headache... The key is, what kind of elixir is this bone-producing elixir? Sikong Yipu said that if I ask the shopkeeper Dong of Yongrentang, he doesn’t know either!”
Wu Sheng said: "Congratulations, Your Majesty. If it were another alchemy master, I might not be able to refine this bone elixir. But I am from the lineage of senior masters from the Xian Clan, so I happen to know the method of elixir refining."
Qingyu said happily: "This is the best, but I don't know how much a bone-growing pill costs?"
Wu Sheng bowed and said: "Your sage, you can see the problem at a glance. Indeed, at this time, it is not only difficult to refine elixirs, not only bone-sparing elixirs, but also other spiritual elixirs. Half a year ago, I just ordered the workshop We have collected all the spiritual materials that can be collected in the city, and now if we want to collect so many more, I am afraid it will be difficult and the price will definitely be high."
Qingyu sighed: "What should we do? I also told Yi Pu the same thing. But the people of Chu have strict edicts, so there is no need to delay."
Wu Sheng pondered and said: "Since the country is in difficulty, I cannot stand idle. I plan to save more for the monarch and take more care of my family. I will try to refine this batch of elixirs at the price at the beginning of the year without increasing the price of an ant nose, no matter what. No matter how much more there is, it will all be paid by me!"
Qingyu was so moved that he almost shed tears: "Of all the ministers in the country, only Shen Qing can take away everyone's worries!"
It feels very good to hold someone's hand, especially when you shake it, and it feels like a favor. But it feels very awkward to have someone hold your hand tightly and keep pulling it into your arms.
Wu Sheng struggled several times but couldn't break free, so he had to express that he would make elixirs immediately, even if he went through fire and water, and asked the monarch to give him wine to make him look strong. Then he took the opportunity to drink and escaped from the palace, otherwise he would see this If the posture continues to develop, you will have to sleep with enough rest.
Holding Qingyu's edict in hand, Wu Sheng went to Sikong Mansion to meet Yi Pu. Yi Pu also knew that with the current market for elixirs, the price of materials would inevitably increase. The total price of two hundred and thirty gold promised by the monarch was indeed less than at the beginning of the year.
But even so, he couldn't afford two hundred and thirty gold.
"I really can't get it out. I only have 180 gold in the treasury now. If I wait until the end of the year, I can still get this money together, but I can't do anything now."
"At the beginning of the year, the young masters plotted a rebellion in pairs..."
"Half of the wealth of the couple was given to the Yu Kingdom as a betrothal. The dowry of the wife of the state was Jiang's private wealth, and no one could do anything about it. Including Bu Yin Ji Cheng, it was true that the property confiscated from his family was , only got sixty gold, and the rest, such as the land of the land, the mansion and the shops, have not been sold. Could it be that the doctor forgot that when the king came to the throne, he rewarded all the officials and the three armies. At that time, nearly two hundred gold was spent, and what was left was How few!"
Wu Sheng sighed. He remembered that he had received at least sixty gold as a reward from Qingyu. It seemed that he really couldn't get it out of the treasury.
"Forget it, it's just one hundred and eighty gold. Sikong can pay it now. I'm going to buy spiritual materials."
"No, I'll give you a maximum of one hundred and twenty gold, and the treasury can't uncover the pot!"
"At least one hundred and seventeen!"
"One hundred and three at most!"
"One more step, one hundred and six!"
"Doctor Shen, Master Shen, please spare Yi, one hundred and four, no more!"
"This is what Chu State wants, Chu State! Send it directly to the army! Chu State!"
"Okay, one hundred and fifty gold, and the remaining eighty gold will be paid at the end of the year!"
After a series of confrontations, the two finally reached a consensus. Wu Sheng smiled bitterly: "Doctor Yi, Sikong has done a good job. Yongrentang has to pay 80 gold in advance, and a certain family is going bankrupt."
Yi Pu felt ashamed: "Doctor Shen is considerate, but the country's funds are insufficient. Let's wait until next year. It will be fine next year."
Carrying a box full of one hundred and fifty gold, Wu Sheng returned to Yongrentang. Master Dongsun had summoned the spiritual material suppliers he usually contacted, and they were all gathered in the hall to wait.
Wu Sheng smiled and nodded as everyone paid their respects, and then hooked Master Dongsun with a pair of hot eyes, and the two of them went straight to the back hall.
"How is it? Did you get the money?" Master Dongsun rubbed his hands.
"I got it, but it's a little short." Wu Sheng replied.
Master Dong Bamboo was a little dissatisfied: "It's less than at the beginning of the year? How can you make money from this?"
Wu Sheng scolded: "The country is in dire straits and the treasury is empty. Why are you still thinking about making money? If Chu is angry, what will be the consequences for Dayong? If Dayong is destroyed, what will happen to Mangdang Mountain? So... I heard that there was Wei People, well, people from the Wei family of the Jin Dynasty, when carrying fodder, put their furs, no, fur coats on inside out, with the skin on the outside and the hair on the inside. The master of the Wei family was very surprised when he saw it, and asked him why, he said that he was doing it for Cherish the hair on the skin, lest it be worn out. The Master of the Wei family said, if the skin is gone, the hair will be attached? If the skin is worn out, can the hair be preserved?"
Master Dongsun praised: "That makes sense...Master of the Wei family? Which one?"
Wu Sheng rolled his eyes: "I told you, it's 'I heard', and it's about truth. Which one is important?"
Master Dongsun said: "I understand, I have to do this even if I don't make any money!"
Master Dong Bamboo went to the outer hall to do some shopping, while Wu Sheng was calculating how much he could earn this time.
He doesn't plan to make money from the Jingning Pill and the Dahuang Pill. Refining these two elixirs is too tiring, so just like last time, he plans to subcontract them out. The three alchemists, Mo You, Yue Zhong and Shangyong, each have fifty The prices given were greatly increased, one hundred gold for the Jingning Pill and one hundred and twenty gold for the Rhubarb Pill, so as not to lose money. This is thirty-two gold.
The most profitable project is to do it yourself. The Chu army is in urgent need of it, so naturally they will not test the elixir. Of course, they directly refine the reduced-efficiency black ginseng pills. After the price increase of the materials, the cost of each pill is about fifty gold, which is forty gold.
As for the Winter Bamboo Shoots Pill whose name has been changed, it is even cheaper. There is no price increase problem for the materials. A single pill costs 20 gold, and five hundred pills only cost 10 gold.
Therefore, just counting the one hundred and fifty golds received, at least sixty or seventy golds can be earned, not to mention another eighty golds will be earned by the end of the year.
Make big money this time!
You can't do it without earning money. Nowadays, the family has a big business and a lot of expenses. Not counting anything else, the salary of the two priests and seven disciples alone costs forty-eight gold a year!
By the way, does the old man Dongsun give him an annual salary, or whenever and wherever he needs it? It’s a bit nerve-wracking…
When I was settling the accounts, I suddenly heard Master Dongzhan roaring from the outer hall: "...if the skin is gone, the hair will be attached. Do you understand?"
