Chapter 55: The Exclusive Rights to Distribute Refined Salt

Noticing the expressions of the crowd, Lu Chuan could not help but smile.

"It seems you have all noticed the unique characteristics of these dishes, so I do not need to say much more. Lu Shui, bring out the refined salt and distribute it to them."

"Understood!"

Lu Shui waved his hand, and a group of servants stepped forward, each carrying a tray holding a ceramic jar filled with snow-white refined salt.

Every merchant gathered here had made enormous contributions to the development of Luxian, which was why Lu Chuan had prepared a ceramic jar of refined salt for each of them.

The jars were not large, but each weighed five catties, which would be more than enough for these merchants to use for a while.

The people took the ceramic jars, dipped their fingers inside to taste the refined salt carefully, and their eyes instantly lit up.

Indeed, there was no bitter aftertaste!

Lord Lu had truly delivered!

They were all businessmen—and extremely successful ones at that, paying over a million coins in taxes to Luxian every year. The moment they discovered the benefits of this refined salt, the first thing that came to their minds was the terrifying profit potential hidden behind it!

Thus, after their initial shock, the way they looked at Lu Chuan became fervent once again.

Anticipating this reaction, Lu Chuan raised a hand to signal for silence.

"Very well, everyone, please quiet down and hear me out first. Once I am finished, anyone with questions may ask them on the spot.

Now, let us discuss this refined salt first.

This refined salt is produced by purifying crude salt. You have already discovered its advantages, so I need not elaborate. However, purifying refined salt requires a massive amount of manpower and material resources, and there is a loss during the refining process—roughly around thirty percent.

In other words, about ten stones of crude salt can yield about seven stones of refined salt. Therefore, the price of this refined salt will certainly be higher than that of crude salt."

"A higher price does not matter; we are willing to buy it!"

A merchant hurriedly stood up. "As long as we can eat refined salt without that bitter taste, I am willing to pay several times the price!"

"Indeed! As long as we can have refined salt, paying more is entirely worth it."

The crowd nodded in agreement. They had long since grown sick of the bitter taste mixed into crude salt.

Especially after tasting food cooked with refined salt, they were even less inclined to endure the old taste.

***

The crowd's enthusiasm was running high. Lu Chuan had to wait until their passionate discussion died down a bit before continuing, "Alright, I understand your thoughts. What I want to discuss next is what everyone cares about the most: how to purchase the refined salt, and how one can obtain the distribution rights for it from me."

"Distribution rights?"

These people had been following Lu Chuan for quite some time, and they had developed a deep understanding of the various terms he had coined, including distribution rights.

"Correct! Distribution rights!"

Lu Chuan raised his hand again, and Lu Shui personally carried a map of the entire country onto the stage.

The crowd's gaze was drawn to the map. Upon closer inspection, they discovered that the map was divided into numerous sections. The largest section consisted of several northern prefectures completely connected into one piece, while the southern and western regions were divided into many parts according to prefectural or even commandery boundaries.

Those seeing this map for the first time did not yet realize its true significance, but Zhen Jiang, who had already secured the northern distribution rights from Lu Chuan in advance, understood completely.

Lu Chuan intended to use these merchants present to build a massive procurement and sales network across the country, selling refined salt to every corner of the realm!

At that moment, she recalled Lu Chuan saying his goal was to ensure that everyone could afford refined salt. Now, it seemed that was certainly no joke.

Lu Chuan was entirely serious about this endeavor.

Miss Mi also saw the map, and her brow immediately furrowed.

Her commercial sensitivity was quite sharp. Seeing that several northern prefectures had been partitioned into a single region, she immediately associated it with the Zhen family.

Aside from the Zhen family, who else possessed the capability to secure distribution rights for such a vast region from Lu Chuan?

Coupled with the memory of Zhen Jiang bidding a staggering one hundred and fifty million coins at the advance auction, Miss Mi understood everything.

Zhen Jiang's money had not been spent in vain, and Lu Chuan had no reason to accept favors from the Zhen family without offering something in return.

Yet, thinking about how such a massive market in the north had fallen entirely into the hands of the Zhen family left Miss Mi feeling displeased.

Hmph!

Vixen!

After staring at the map for a moment, the others also began to understand.

These pre-partitioned areas were clearly sales territories for the refined salt.

Although the national map had been sliced into many pieces and the largest piece occupied the northern territory, the remaining portions were each at least the size of a commandery.

***

The refined salt business of a single commandery still held terrifyingly high profits.

While behemoths like the Zhen and Mi families might not care too much about the salt trade in just a single commandery, for the merchants in attendance, monopolizing the refined salt business of even one commandery would undoubtedly yield unimaginable wealth!

Thus, their expressions grew fervent once more, eager for Lu Chuan to quickly announce how these territories were to be divided.

Since Lu Chuan had invited them here, he must have made preparations for all of them.

Even if they needed to pay a price to secure the distribution rights for these regions, they believed it was well worth it!

Still in no rush to speak, Lu Chuan waited until the murmurs in the audience had died down before speaking calmly and deliberately.

"You are all individuals who have made enormous contributions to the development of Luxian. On behalf of the Luxian magistrate's office and the broad masses of Luxian's people, I express my gratitude to you!

Of course, mere verbal thanks are far from enough to express my inner excitement and sincerity, which is why I am willing to grant the distribution rights of the refined salt to you all, allowing you to reap even more tangible benefits from the development of Luxian!"

"Lord Lu is truly righteous! Being able to cooperate with Lord Lu and contribute a fraction of our strength to the development of Luxian is also our honor!"

A merchant shouted loudly, his words filled with admiration for Lu Chuan.

The others chimed in with agreement, because they truly had gained genuine benefits from the development of Luxian.

Seeing the attitude of these merchants toward Lu Chuan, Zhen Jiang and Miss Mi finally realized that Lu Chuan's current status was no longer that of a mere minor county magistrate.

Today, Lu Chuan possessed the ability to command a vast multitude of merchants.

No matter how deep the pockets of the Zhen and Mi families were, they would never dare to make enemies with so many merchants simultaneously.

In other words, as long as Lu Chuan wished it, perhaps a single word from him could inflict catastrophic losses upon both the Zhen and Mi families!

Take these refined salt distribution rights, for example: if Lu Chuan were to exclude the Zhen and Mi families, how severe a blow would it deal to them?

Zhen Jiang and Miss Mi exchanged glances, each seeing a mixture of deep admiration and wariness toward Lu Chuan reflected in the other's eyes.