The Prodigal Son

Three days later, Qin Yu and Yan Li met again at the pavilion at the foot of Wanquan Mountain.

The people brought by both sides engaged in a fierce verbal battle in the pavilion, with curses ringing out incessantly.

However, Yan Li and Qin Yu sat far away under the shade of a tree, with fine wine and delicacies on the table.

"I tried it, your alcohol really works!"

Yan Li took a sip of wine and said with a smile, "Tell me, how can I get the method to make alcohol?"

He knew in his heart that Qin Yu was trying to seduce him by giving him alcohol.

However, the alcohol really works!

Moreover, alcohol is extremely effective at cooling down soldiers who faint from the heat.

In his letter, Qin Yu said that the alcohol could also be used to block the plague during an epidemic.

He hasn't had a chance to verify this effect yet.

But the mere presence of alcohol was enough to tempt him.

On the battlefield, many soldiers do not die in battle, but die or are maimed due to festering wounds.

If the Yan state could master the method of making alcohol, there would be far fewer casualties on future battlefields.

"Let me change our requirements first!"

Qin Yu smiled, "We don't need you to launch a feigned attack on Xianzhou. Just send reinforcements to Panshan Pass and make some noise there!"

Yan Li pondered for a moment, "That would be even better!"

"Alright, now you state your terms!"

As he spoke, Qin Yu picked up another piece of venison and put it in his mouth, looking at Yan Li with a smile.

Looking at Qin Yu's appearance, Yan Li couldn't help but feel a headache coming on.

Da Ning lowered his requirements, so their conditions naturally had to be lowered as well.

Moreover, Qin Yu also had alcohol in his possession that he desperately wanted to know how to make!

This is a bit troublesome!

This Qin Yu is as cunning as ever!

Yan Li pondered for a moment and replied, "How about this, I'll grant you your second request from that day! I won't mention any other conditions: one million shi of grain, plus one million taels of silver, and in addition, you must teach my people to produce alcohol!"

"Your Highness, are you trying to force me to curse?"

Qin Yu put down his chopsticks. "I could guess with my toes that you would sell the alcohol to Bei Qi! If you were Empress Murong of Bei Qi, what price would you be willing to pay for the alcohol?"

Hearing Qin Yu's words, Yan Li smiled helplessly.

That's exactly what he thought!

Use alcohol to gain more benefits from Beiqi!

Especially the warhorses!

Bei Qi would definitely be willing to pay a high price for something that could save the wounded soldiers to the greatest extent possible.

He controls the method of making alcohol, which means he controls the money!

"Forget it, forget it!"

Yan Li waved his hand, "I don't want the grain or the silver! I just want the method to make alcohol, is that alright?"

"No!"

Qin Yu shook his head, "This is a long-term business. You've benefited from Bei Qi, and I want a share too!"

"You still say I'm not sincere? Is this what you call sincerity?"

Yan Li almost laughed out of anger, "My Great Yan is helping you, and I have to give you something in return?"

That bastard!

They've certainly got a good plan!

Qin Yu looked at Yan Li with a smile, "How about this, you name your other terms, and after we reach an agreement, I'll offer you alcohol at fifty taels of silver per pound as payment?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Li immediately rejected the idea.

As the saying goes, it is better to teach a man to fish than to give him a fish.

He would definitely prefer the method of making alcohol!

Only by learning the methods can they turn their business with Beiqi into a long-term business!

Only by learning the methods can they know how much capital they have.

After a moment's thought, Yan Li spoke up: "I need the method to make it! Tell me your conditions!"

"So, shall I really say it?" Qin Yu grinned.

Yan Li sighed, feigning helplessness, "Tell me! Who told me I like this stuff so much?"

Ugh!

They originally intended to demand benefits from Da Ning!

But now it's the other way around.

Helping Da Ning and then having to give Da Ning something in return—it's a bitter pill to swallow!

Qin Yu's lips curled into a smile as he said, "I can teach you the method, but you must provide me with five thousand warhorses!"

"impossible!"

Yan Li refused without hesitation, "I don't even know what I can get in return from Bei Qi, why should I give you five thousand warhorses?"

That bastard actually dared to say that!

Five thousand warhorses?

He's really trying to get himself ripped off!

"Your Highness, do you even believe that yourself?"

Qin Yu smiled and said, "If you don't exchange warhorses with Bei Qi, do you expect to exchange them for grain or salt and iron?"

"With this alcohol, you can exchange it for warhorses from Beiqi every year. I only need five thousand warhorses. Isn't that a lot?"

"Our dynasty cannot trade with Northern Qi because we are at war with them!"

"Otherwise, do you think this good thing would fall into your lap?"

"Do you believe that as long as my dynasty opens trade with Northern Qi, I can exchange for five thousand warhorses from Northern Qi within a year at most?"

"Furthermore, I don't need to hand over this method of making alcohol!"

Negotiations have once again reached a stalemate.

Yan Li knew the truth of what Qin Yu said.

The effects of alcohol are tremendous!

Qin Yu knew this, which is why he dared to take the initiative and make exorbitant demands.

But now he wants the method to make alcohol, yet he doesn't want to give Qin Yu too much!

Especially war horses, a resource for warfare.

Seeing Yan Li struggling, Qin Yu spoke again: "Your Highness, I won't hide it from you. I just received news that my Wudang Flying Army has been transferred to Panyang for a troop rotation. They should arrive in a few days."

"What do you mean?"

Yan Li frowned, looking at Qin Yu with a forced smile, "Are you threatening me?"

"What the hell is wrong with your brain? What does this have to do with threatening you?"

Qin Yu looked at Yan Li speechlessly, "You're waging a war of attrition, are you really willing to use your precious cavalry to wear us down?"

Yan Li thought about it and realized that it made sense.

The Northern Qi have a large number of cavalry, so they can use them to wear down the enemy in a war of attrition.

But Da Ning didn't have enough cavalry to fight a war of attrition.

"So what do you want to say?"

Yan Li still didn't quite understand what Qin Yu was trying to express.

"Are you genuinely confused, or are you just pretending?"

Qin Yu lowered his head and sighed, "Our dynasty is truly lacking in warhorses! Otherwise, do you think His Majesty wouldn't want to use cavalry to wear down the Northern Qi?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Li suddenly realized and laughed, "So you're complaining to me?"

"What does it mean to complain? This is the truth."

Qin Yu shook his head and smiled, "If my dynasty weren't short of warhorses, do you think I would be willing to offer you my method for making alcohol in exchange?"

"To be honest, I originally wanted 1,500 warhorses every year!"

"But I feel that if we do that, there might be some unpleasantness between us later!"

"Therefore, a one-time purchase is more suitable!"

Hearing Qin Yu's heartfelt words, Yan Li instantly understood.

Qin Yu's meaning is very clear.

He was skeptical of the Yan state's credibility!

With the condition of providing two thousand warhorses annually, the Yan state may very well break its promise!