"Liu Zongbing, although we are not from Jiangnan, our relationship with the salt merchants in Suzhou and Hangzhou is not bad, if the general soldier is interested, maybe we can be the middleman between the two of you. Pen @ fun @ pavilion wWw. ｂｉｑUｇE。 The chief soldier should also understand that there is no benefit in fighting this way. It is impossible for you to wipe out all the salt merchants in Zhejiang and Zhejiang, otherwise you would not have resorted to such commercial competition. In this case, why don't we sit down and talk, if we can resolve the dispute through negotiation, it will be very beneficial for both you and me! What do you say, Lord General? ”

Zhao Yan's tone was calm and his attitude was very sincere, and he also said what Liu Fan wanted to say the most in his heart, in fact, Liu Fan was not willing to fight to the death with a big force like the Lianghuai Salt Merchant, if he could really negotiate to get what he wanted as Zhao Yan said, Liu Fan didn't mind talking to them.

After thinking about it for a while, Liu Fan muttered, "What you said does have some truth, and the governor actually doesn't want to make things too stiff." If you can really talk about the salt merchants of Suzhou and Hangzhou, it is not impossible for the governor to sit down and talk to you. But the only thing that worries the Doge is that you can represent them? ”

Zhao Yan was overjoyed when he heard that Liu Fan was relieved, and he nodded hurriedly and said, "Don't worry, the general soldier, we are very good friends and allies." Although Zhao didn't dare to say that he could definitely represent them, he was more than seventy percent sure that he could convince them. If the general soldier really had the intention, Zhao would definitely do his best to facilitate this matter. ”

Liu Fu was silent for a while, and then he spoke, "Okay, if you want to end this fight, you must agree to one of the conditions of this governor!" ”

Zhao Yan hurriedly said: "Lord Commander, it's okay to just say it!" ”

Liu Fan smiled and said, "The condition of this governor is that you salt merchants in Jiaozhou must allow our Haiyan in Jiaozhou to enter the market under the control of Jiangnan and even the entire Lianghuai salt merchants, and you will not block or do anything against us that is unfavorable to us. In addition, the vendors who have been arrested by you must also be released, as long as you can agree to these two preconditions, and the rest is easy to say! ”

Zhao Yan hesitated a little when he heard this, and after thinking for a long time, he nodded with difficulty: "The conditions of the general soldier, Zhao can bring a table, and our two Huai salt merchants agree to come down." But we also have a few conditions, and we hope that the general army will consider one or two. First, the competition in your Haiyan in Jiaozhou is too strong, and almost all of our goods cannot be sold. Therefore, we must limit the scale of your sales of Jiaozhou sea salt, at least not to let our interests be devastated. Second, if allowed, we would like to pay for the method of purifying the refined salt of the general army. In this way, the two of us can really stand on the same starting line! Thirdly..."

"Enough!" Before Zhao Yan could finish speaking, Liu Fan suddenly interrupted, "The first condition is fine, but don't even think about the second condition, the method of purifying refined salt is the foundation of our Jiaozhou salt merchants, how can it be easily handed over to others?" If it were for you two salt merchants, would you hand over this magic weapon to the Governor? ”

"Uh..." Zhao Yan smiled a little embarrassedly when he heard this, he also understood how excessive his request was. But he is really greedy for Liu Fan's method of purifying refined salt! As long as there is a slight opportunity, Zhao Yan is unwilling to give up, after thinking about it, Zhao Yan still continued to persuade: "Lord General Soldier, as long as the interests are sufficient, there is nothing in this world that cannot be traded. If you're willing to sell us the secret recipe, how about we're willing to pay a million taels? ”

"Snort..."Liu Fan said with a smile, "The head of the Zhao family is really good at joking, let alone a million taels of silver." Even if you bid 10,000,000 taels of silver and beg me personally, the governor will have to consider whether or not to sell it to you! Ben Governor can tell you unambiguously not to even think about it! ”

"Ten million taels?" Zhao Yan looked at Liu Fan dumbfounded, and said, "Mr. Liu, you are too good at opening your mouth!" To be honest, one million taels Zhao thinks it's a lot, and you actually offered 10 million taels. You don't slaughter people like that, do you? Is there a secret recipe worth 10 million taels in this world? I've never heard of it since ancient times! ”

"Hehe..."Liu Fan smiled disdainfully, "I haven't heard of it, but it doesn't mean that I don't have it, if this secret recipe is put in the hands of others, I don't know the price, and if it is invented by a stove household, it may only be worth a hundred or ten taels, but at the level of you and me, it is worth this price!" ”

Seeing that Zhao Yan still looked disbelieving, Liu Fan explained with a smile: "How much do you two Huai salt merchants make a year by controlling the Jiangnan salt market?" I'm afraid it's more than 10 million taels, right? Now that the Governor has relied on the refined salt to defeat you to the point that you have lost your armor and collapsed, as long as you give me a year and a half, the Governor is sure to completely take over the market in the south of the Yangtze River. In just three or two years, the benefits obtained are more than tens of millions of taels! The energy contained in it can be put into the hands of you and me to exert its greatest power! What Bendok sells you is not just a secret ingredient, but the value it brings! What do you think? Do you still think he's not worth 10 million taels? ”

Zhao Yan was a little dumbfounded when he heard this, although he always felt that something was wrong in his heart, but from the bright side, Liu Fan's explanation did make some sense. But this price is really too expensive, Zhao Yan thought for a long time but shook his head and refused, "Mr. Liu, your asking price is too high, I dare not agree to this condition." Even if I promised you, I wouldn't have that much money! ”

"How can you say that you don't have any money?" Liu Fan looked at it, it seemed that there was a door, his eyes rolled and he suddenly had an idea, and he earnestly induced, "Just because you don't have money yourself doesn't mean that others don't have money?" After getting this secret recipe, it's not you who makes a profit, you don't have enough money to find someone else to make up! There are more than a dozen top families in the Lianghuai Salt Merchants alone, and one person is only seven or eight hundred thousand taels when it is divided into ten million taels, and there are so many small forces under you, looking for them to make up for it, if it is successful, it will only be 500,000 taels per person. Master Zhao, don't tell this governor, your Zhao family can't even afford 500,000 taels! ”

"Poof!" Zhao Yan almost spurted out a mouthful of old blood, but the astronomical amount of 10 million taels seemed to be very simple when it reached Liu Fan's mouth! Although at this moment, Zhao Yan wanted to slap Liu Fan hard and tell him that things were not as simple as you thought. But if you think about it carefully, Liu Fan's analysis seems to be really very likely. If Wang Wu's family was asked to pay 500,000 taels of silver each, they could solve the problem that had plagued them for a long time and they could get the coveted secret recipe for refined salt, Zhao Yan believed that they would be very willing to accept this price.