Li Shen was not idle, he changed his clothes and got into the carriage and went straight to the Zhao Guogong Mansion.

In fact, Li Shen has obtained the monopoly license of salt and iron, and he can produce it himself, but he can't quench his thirst from far water, and he is a little too late in time.

Moreover, the large iron mines in the country have been occupied by this group of family scholars, and there is no place for Li Shen.

Due to the limited technology in the Tang Dynasty, the annual output of iron was only more than 10 million catties. So the price is more than several times that of later dynasties.

Li Shen also had no way to go to Changsun Wuji, and there was no problem with his small steel mill being used in the guard camp.

But if it is used for such large-scale production, it is somewhat stretched.

And his little iron ore was almost mined by him.

When Li Shen arrived at the Zhao State Mansion, it happened that the eldest grandson Wuji came back from the court.

Hearing that King Ji Li Shen was here, the eldest grandson Wuji was a little puzzled, was he here to find Princess Changle?

No matter what, the eldest grandson Wuji also personally opened the middle door to greet King Ji, let Li Shen sit in the front hall, and ordered his subordinates to serve tea, and then the eldest grandson Wuji asked:

"I don't know if His Royal Highness King Ji is here today?"

"Haha, uncle, can't the king come to sit with you if there is nothing to do? We're both separated by what you're saying. Li Shen laughed.

"Hehe, of course you can, if King Ji is willing to come to the minister's mansion at any time, the minister will definitely sweep the couch to greet him." The eldest grandson Wuji also smiled.

"After that, it was indispensable to disturb my uncle. But there is a real reason why this king is here today. Li Shen said politely and immediately got back to business.

He didn't want to be a fool of these old foxes, and he wasn't an opponent, so it was best to go straight.

"Your Highness, please speak."

"That's right, my uncle should know that I want to build Chiling Town, and it takes a lot of steel to build it.

The scale of steel in this Tang uncle's house is the largest, so I came here today to cooperate with my uncle and buy a batch of steel products and tools.

I don't know what my uncle thinks? Li Shen said directly.

"Oh? Buying steel, of course, is good, and thanks to the prince for taking care of the business of my Zhao Guogong Mansion. Eldest Sun Wuji said happily.

"I don't know how much the price is, uncle, the amount that this king needs is relatively large, so can the price be cheaper."

The amount of steel used in the entire fence is astronomical, and he didn't learn how much he needed to build it, and he didn't know how much it needed.

It can only be purchased in batches, and if there are more in the end, his blacksmith workshop can also be used, so it doesn't matter.

"Don't worry, this prince, we can discuss the price, and someone will call the steward." The eldest grandson Wuji commanded.

Soon one of Zhao Guogong's stewards arrived in a hurry.

"I've seen King Ji, I've seen the head of the family."

"You tell His Royal Highness King Ji about the price of our steel." Zhao Guogong said to the steward.

"Yes, the master of the family, the pig iron produced in our workshop is sixty wen a catty, wrought iron is ninety wen a catty, fine iron is two hundred wen a catty, ten fire steel is three hundred wen a catty, and one hundred steels are three through one catty, and no matter how good the steel is, it needs to be booked in advance."

"So expensive?" Li Shen was surprised.

The palace has not bought steel in these years, and even if it does, it is a small amount, and Wang Hongfu will buy it.

How did he know that the price of iron was so expensive.

Pig iron costs 60 wen a catty, wrought iron costs 90 wen, and a hoe costs more than 100 wen?

"That's... Uncle, isn't it a joke, is steel so expensive now? ”

Li Shen asked uncertainly.

"Haha, you don't know, Lord Wang, this includes labor costs and carbon prices.

In fact, the main reason is that the price of labor and carbon is expensive, and the loss of wrought iron and refined iron is too much.

A pound of pig iron can only get seventy percent of wrought iron, which can barely be used to build farm tools.

But if it is for the military, then it needs the level of fine iron, a pound of pig iron can only be left two or three percent, if it is made of steel, five pounds of wrought iron can barely be made into a pound of steel,

There are even more of them, so the price will be a little higher. The eldest grandson Wuji explained to Li Shen.

But in my heart, I slandered, you have your own workshop, can you not know the price? The guards of King Ji's Mansion have more than 100 pieces of armor, all of which are made of good steel.

Li Shen also understands what the eldest grandson Wuji said, but he didn't expect it to be so expensive.

"Uncle, I need a lot of money, I don't know if it can be cheaper, and you know that I have no money in my house.

Not long ago, I borrowed a million from Aye. ”

Li Shen can only negotiate the price first, and the amount he needs is more than one million catties.

"Then I don't know which one His Royal Highness King Ji needs?" Eldest Sun Wuji asked with a smile.

Li Shen thought about it, the iron bar of wrought iron is fine, but fine iron is too expensive, and he can't afford to make it.

He has the heart to use wood as a material now.

"Uncle, this king only needs iron bars made of wrought iron. Prepare two million catties first. ”

"That's it, the wrought iron minister gave the prince eighty wen a catty, I don't know what His Highness wants."

The eldest grandson Wuji thought for a while and said:

Eighty wen a catty, two million catties is 160,000 guan, plus the transportation cost is about 180,000 guan, this is still acceptable.

Li Shen thought about it in his heart, then nodded:

"Okay, then thank you uncle, I wonder how long it will take for my uncle to finish making it?"

The eldest grandson Wuji glanced at the steward, and the steward's understanding stepped forward and said:

"His Royal Highness King Ji, now we have it in stock, as long as it is made into iron bars in January, we will let the craftsmen of the workshop step up production, and we will not delay King Ji's affairs."

"Well, uncle, I'll have someone send me the money when the time comes, but it's definitely not enough.

I don't know how much inventory my uncle has, can it be enough to supply the needs of Chiling Yaoyi? ”

Li Shen asked, he was afraid that if the eldest grandson Wuji didn't have much inventory, it would be over.

"Back to His Royal Highness King Ji, we now have five million catties of inventory, if the prince still needs it later, we will find a way to help His Royal Highness King Ji buy some at that time." The steward continued.

"That's good, after the first batch of two million catties of iron bars is produced, don't stop this king." Li Shen stood up.

"Uncle, then we will make up our minds, the money will be sent to my uncle soon, and I hope that my uncle will ship it soon.

The king took his leave. ”

The eldest grandson Wuji quickly stood up and said:

"Don't worry, don't worry about the money, the minister will urge them to build it as soon as possible."

"Then there's Uncle Law. Leave. After Li Shen finished speaking, he left the Zhao State Mansion.

After sending Li Shen away, the eldest grandson Wuji came back and asked the steward:

"We obviously have more than eight million catties of inventory in our warehouse, why do you say that there are only five million catties?"

"The head of the family, the price you gave is already very low, and it is said that King Ji's Mansion is rich and rivals the country.

Such a good opportunity, the villain thinks that he should make a little more, and when the time comes, we will take out the rest and say that we bought it from other families.

We added ten or twenty wen and sold them to King Ji at a cost, and King Ji would not doubt it if he thought about it.

After all, the annual output is like this, and the imperial court has a record. ”

The steward carefully explained that he just wanted to make Li Shen a little more money.