I support the army through farming and business.

Chapter 123 Franchise Recruitment
Wang Shenyan traveled day and night without stopping, changing horses three times on the way, before he reached Lanzhou before the city gates were closed and entered the gate of Yang's mansion.

Madam Yang was praying in the Buddhist temple. When she heard the news, she immediately went to the front hall and asked, "Is the deal done?"

Wang Shenyan shook his head, "No, the princess thought three hundred thousand taels was too little and was unwilling to sell it."

Three hundred thousand taels is not enough? Madam Yang frowned, "How much is the princess's offer?"

"The princess hasn't said anything, but I estimate it won't be less than 500,000 taels!"

Five hundred thousand taels?! Madam Yang gasped. Even someone like her who worshipped Buddha all year round and ignored worldly matters knew what five hundred thousand taels meant.

Madam Yang looked at Master Yang, who put down his teacup and said, "No matter what, the soybean oil recipe must be bought."

If the Crown Princess's position is lost, the years of planning by the Zhang and Yang families will be reduced to ashes!
Madam Yang hesitated to speak.

Wang Shenyan said tactfully, "I'll take my leave first."

Master Yang ordered his servants to take the person to the guest room.

Madam Yang frowned and said, "Princess Zhaoshan's request is so high, should we agree to it?"

"What can we do? The Crown Princess has already boasted to the Crown Prince, and she's determined to get the soybean oil recipe," Master Yang sighed. "If it were an ordinary citizen, there would be many ways to do it, but this is Princess Zhaoshan, the wife of the General of the Cavalry, and the daughter-in-law of King Xuan!"

In the northwest, Prince Xuan’s Palace is the sky!

The prince is not afraid, so isn’t the Yang family afraid?
Madam Yang twirled her Buddhist beads. "How despicable! A young lady from the Duke's Mansion would actually do something so indecent as to have a private relationship with a man from another family. This truly tarnishes the reputation of a noble lady from an aristocratic family!"

Dayu had been established for forty years, and the Zhang family still adhered to the rules of the previous dynasty. Master Yang didn't want to waste time arguing with her about this, so he analyzed the seriousness of the situation and said, "The Zhang family has declined, and the Crown Princess is no longer as favored by the Prince as before. Now that the concubine has entered the palace, the Crown Princess's position is threatened. If she doesn't seize the opportunity to make meritorious contributions, when the battle for the throne comes, I'm afraid she will have no place to stand."

Since ancient times, military power has been indispensable to the change of dynasties. However, the current emperor has strict control over military power, and the prince has never had access to it. Now that he has married into the Duke of Wei's family, his path to succession will be more certain.

Men never hesitate to show their favor and generosity to useful women. In addition, the concubine was gentle and beautiful, so she was deeply favored by the prince after she entered the house. It was not once or twice that the prince's wife returned to her parents' home to complain.

Now they finally have the opportunity to make a contribution in front of the Crown Prince. Besides, everyone in the world knows that Princess Zhaoshan is not on good terms with Duke Wei's Mansion. What's more, soybean oil is refined by Princess Zhaoshan. How can the Crown Princess and the Zhang family let go of such a godsend opportunity?
"The Zhang family sent another letter urging us to give them the soybean oil recipe," Master Yang said, showing the latest letter he had received. "It clearly states that we must get the soybean oil recipe no matter what the cost."

This is an opportunity for the Crown Princess to gain merit in front of the Crown Prince, and also an opportunity for the Crown Prince to gain merit in front of Emperor Sheng'an!
"I understand," Madam Yang quickly turned her Buddhist beads, "I'll go and collect the money right away."

Master Yang endured the pain and said, "I heard that Princess Zhaoshan loves farming. Find all the Yang family's land deeds in Wuwei and send them to Princess Zhaoshan."

Madam Yang went down to make arrangements, and for a moment the Yang family was in a state of panic.

At the end of April, Wang Shenyan came to the door again and said, "I am willing to buy the oil refining recipe for 500,000 taels of silver."

Tang Zhao raised the price, "Six hundred thousand taels."

Wang Shenyan presented the fish scale book prepared by the Yang family. "Five hundred and thirty thousand taels, Princess, this is all the Wang and Yang families can offer!"

The Yang family was wealthy and had significant expenses. They refused to sell off their property, so they could only provide 80,000 taels of silver. To raise the funds, the Wang family sold everything they could. Tang Zhao estimated the Wang family's wealth and felt that this price was almost at the top. However, she flipped through the newly acquired fish scale book and said, "This princess sees that there's a gap between the Song clan land and the land given by the Yang family."

Wang Shenyan suddenly looked up and said with difficulty, "The princess wants my Wang family's land."

"Don't be so harsh. This princess wants it, but the decision is yours," Tang Zhao said lazily, resting his chin on his hand. "Three thousand acres of land is worth seventy thousand taels of silver. You're the one who made the profit."

Wang Shenyan felt a pang of pain. The Wang family was of low status, and they could own such a large piece of fertile farmland in Wuwei only because their ancestors became rich early and bought it quickly. Otherwise, the Wang family would not even be able to touch the edge of the fertile farmland.

This land was passed down from the Wang family's ancestors. Losing it was almost like betraying their ancestors. Wang Shenyan struggled for a long time before finally saying, "I will send 530,000 taels of silver and the fish scale book later."

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Young Master Wang," Tang Zhao kindly advised. "Young Master Wang is so generous. I, the princess, will return the favor by giving you a free idea that will quickly pay off your investment."

"I am all ears."

"Master Wang, have you heard of the term 'franchising and investment attraction'?" Tang Zhao said eloquently. "The so-called franchising and investment attraction is to find merchants who voluntarily join and let them pay to purchase goods."

Wang Shenyan frowned, "Pay to purchase goods?"

"For example, you could sell soybean oil refining rights, perhaps for a five-year term of 10,000 taels per term, to attract merchants. Grant them the right to refine soybean oil, and then reclaim it upon maturity. This way, you can quickly raise funds and, secondly, distribute soybean oil throughout Dayu at the fastest possible speed."

Wang Shenyan thought to himself, why should I sell the recipe I spent all my family fortune on to others at a low price? Then he heard soybean oil spreading in Dayu at the fastest speed, and he was stunned.

He is not a fool, so he naturally knows that the Yang family is connected to the Crown Princess's family. So can we boldly guess that this soybean oil recipe is not wanted by the Yang family, nor by the Zhang family, but by the Crown Prince!

The emperor wants it!

Your Majesty and the Crown Prince want to ensure that all people in the world have access to soybean oil!
Therefore, although the soybean oil recipe is important, the most important thing is to spread soybean oil around the world!

Whoever can do this will be able to rise to the top!
Wang Shenyan felt all the blood in his body suddenly rush to his heart. He grasped the corner of the desk and stood up, bowing sincerely. "Thank you, Princess, for your guidance!"

Seeing that he had understood, Tang Zhao nodded with satisfaction and urged, "Send the silver as soon as possible. This princess is waiting to spend it."

Wang Shenyan responded loudly and went back home to make arrangements.

Before sunset, hundreds of boxes filled with silver ingots, pearls, and gemstones filled the treasury of the Protectorate General's Mansion. Tang Zhao handed over the soybean oil recipe and said, "The silver and goods are paid. It's a pleasure to cooperate with you."

Wang Shenyan took the thin piece of paper with trembling hands, bowed respectfully, and left the city overnight to go to the capital with everyone from the Yang Mansion.

Three months later, the government posted a notice inviting merchants from all over the world to join in soybean oil production. All merchants in Dayu heard the news and the team of people seeking to join lined up from the Ministry of Revenue to the city gate.

Wang Shenyan, on the other hand, was promoted to the Ministry of Revenue as an exception because of his good advice, and became a model that merchants all over the world envied and emulated.

Of course, this is a story.

Zhao Zhao: The game of chess is finally over. What should we do next?
Author: Do you have any good ideas in the comment section?