My lord, spare his life!

Zhang Yang nodded: "Yes, these are all we need."

"Forgive my ignorance, but I do not understand Lord Zhang's intentions. Rather than purchasing large quantities of ramie and silk, it would be better to buy cloth." Lu Yuan was silent for a moment, trying to understand Zhang Yang's intentions. In previous transactions with the Eastern Barbarian Army, they had never asked for these things.

There are weight and space restrictions for each shipment between the two locations.

The production of raw materials into finished products can significantly reduce transportation costs.

Zhang Yang also spoke frankly: "Recently, I acquired a batch of interesting spinning wheels, which are better than ordinary single-spindle spinning wheels. However, due to the poor climate, there is not much to show for our production. If we had enough raw materials, we could also enable those engaged in this trade to earn some money."

"An interesting spinning wheel?"

Lu Yuan became increasingly confused as she listened, until Zhang Yang finished speaking, and a chilling conclusion formed in her mind—the Dongfan Army was not satisfied with the territory of the Dongfan Mountains and was expanding its influence into the Tianyue territory!

Otherwise, why would the Dongfan army, which has been quietly making a fortune by occupying the Dongfan Mountains, be interested in such a paltry profit? You must know that the Dongfan army has always only pursued businesses that are extremely profitable.

Honest business practices are nowhere near as appealing as getting rich overnight.

Zhang Yang thought that Lü Yuan did not believe him.

"Yes, it's a pity the spinning wheel isn't here. I'll definitely come and take a look when I have the chance." Zhang Yang took out a notebook from his game backpack, holding a pen in his right hand. "The mountain counties are flat and fertile. Does Bafeng know the wholesale price of raw materials?"

Zhang Yang was genuinely keen to make this deal happen.

As a corpse dealer, she also knew a little about business.

For example, if a player buys a large quantity of corpses from her at once, she will give the player a discount, lowering the unit price of the corpses or rounding it down to zero. If Zhang Yang buys a large quantity of raw materials from Lu Yuan, Lu Yuan should also give her a discount, lowering the wholesale price further.

Lu Yuan watched her fluid movements and was speechless.

Zhang Yang: "Aren't you clear on the Eight Winds?"

Lu Yuan said awkwardly, "I am not knowledgeable in administrative matters."

She was the Commandant of Chesi County, in charge of the county's military and political affairs, and her daily work consisted of leading troops in battle and patrolling. What Magistrate Zhang mentioned was outside her scope of duties. Let alone the wholesale price of raw materials, she wouldn't even know how much a single egg cost that day.

Zhang Yang frowned: "How could I not know that?"

His tone carried a hint of disapproval.

Hearing this, Lu Yuan couldn't help but straighten her back and take the reprimand seriously. When Lu Yuan came to her senses, she felt a little annoyed.

I didn't do anything wrong?

Why feel guilty?

Lü Yuan: "This is not my responsibility."

Zhang Yang shook his head: "That's not the logic. Although when there's no war, the Commandant is only responsible for daily training and defense arrangements, and it seems he doesn't need to know these things, he still needs to know exactly how much the soldiers in the camp eat and wear. If he doesn't know the market prices of rice, grain, and cloth, how can he guarantee that the military pay will be delivered effectively? How can he guarantee that no one will deceive their superiors or line their own pockets?"

Lu Yuan opened his mouth.

Did she hear that right?

These words were spoken by the leader of the Eastern Expeditionary Army.

Lu Yuan had an extremely absurd feeling.

Zhang Yang continued, "I've heard that officials must love the people like their own children, govern with benevolence to ease their suffering, and only then will they be praised by the people. I imagine military generals must also govern their troops with kindness and trust, sharing weal and woe with their soldiers to win the love and respect of the army. Officials should be close to the people, and generals should be united with their soldiers. If that's the case, how can someone not even know the cost of their soldiers' food and clothing? That shouldn't be the case..."

That's not how Shu Yan taught him.

Based on preconceived notions, Zhang Yang naturally concluded that Lu Yuan was problematic and incompetent, not even knowing basic facts.

Ritsumoto: "..."

When she heard Zhang Yang say "This shouldn't be," in a calm, even tone, she suddenly felt extremely uncomfortable. A strange heat surged from the inner garment beneath her armor towards her neck, making her cheeks flush and giving her a bizarre urge to cover her face with her sleeve.

Lu Yuan took a deep breath to relieve the heat.

"What Magistrate Zhang says is true; I will certainly keep his teachings in mind."

Zhang Yang accepted this sincere reflection with righteous indignation, and calmly said, "To know one's mistakes and correct them is the greatest virtue. It's just a pity that Tianyue Yuanyuan's livelihood is so poor, and Bafeng still needs to go back and find out about the prices."

This deal absolutely has to go through.

If he couldn't succeed, Zhang Yang would have no choice but to amass troops and find an opportunity to attack the mountain kingdoms. His first target would be Chesi County. Why? Because Chesi County was close to the exit of the mountains. Occupying this area would ensure a stable logistical supply for Zhang Yang.

Lu Yuan didn't want to refuse openly, for fear of displeasing Zhang Yang.

So she could only vaguely agree.

Lu Yuan was distracted, while Zhang Yang's enthusiasm for promoting the product remained undiminished.

"I've recently acquired some fine items. Bafeng, born in a prosperous land, is knowledgeable and experienced. Could you please take a look at them for me?"

"I don't deserve it, I don't deserve it."

Lu Yuan felt increasingly uneasy.

She had dealt with the Eastern Army many times—although each time it was a different person in charge, these people all had one thing in common: they were soldiers in name but bandits in reality, and they often caused trouble—when had she ever been so humble and polite?

The more this is the case, the more suspicious it seems.

Lu Yuan secretly observed his sworn brother Guan Zong, who gave no instructions. He then observed the empty room and guessed where the executioners were buried.

"Eight Winds, take a look at this. What do you think?"

Zhang Yang pulled out a fluffy and thick blanket.

All of Lu Yuan's tension and vigilance vanished the moment she saw the large, smooth, glossy blanket, her gaze completely fixed on it. She removed her gauntlets and touched the blanket with her fingertips. The texture was even smoother than she had imagined; it wasn't the coldness of an inanimate object, nor did it have any fishy or unpleasant odor. Instead, she could smell a faint, comforting scent that reminded her of warm sunshine.

"What kind of prey's pelt is this?"

"It is not animal hide."

"Does Magistrate Zhang mean that such intricate and vibrant colors are actually artificially woven and dyed?" Lu Yuan parted the thick pile, carefully examining the bottom and the thickness and color of the pile, and was astonished to discover that these colors were not simply on the surface. "Wouldn't it fade if it were starched?"

Zhang Yang: "It won't fade."

If it fades, what's the difference between covering it up and getting a tattoo?

Lu Yuan's first reaction was disbelief.

As far as she knew, many wealthy families wore garments dyed with plant dyes, resulting in light and pale colors, often only suitable for one season. These garments were frequently starched and washed twice, causing the front and back to appear completely different colors. Only a small number of royal nobles wore garments dyed with minerals or rare and exotic plants, producing deep, vibrant colors that were durable and would not fade over time. Even the most extravagant families in the mountain kingdoms, whose wealth rivaled that of a royal family, did not wear clothes as intricately and vividly colored as this blanket…

Lu Yuan liked it at first sight.

After touching it for a while, she discovered another advantage of this item: it was extremely warm. Her fingers, covered by the blanket, felt noticeably warm, as if the heat was locked inside by the thick fleece.

"If you don't believe me, you can throw it into the stream."

Lu Yuan rejected the attempt.

How could such a rare treasure be treated so roughly?

Even if washing doesn't cause the color to fade, starch marks will still make clothes lose their new luster, greatly reducing their value. Apart from rare and precious artifacts, most items in the world are more expensive when they are brand new.

Zhang Yang couldn't understand Lu Yuan's thoughts. In Zhang Yang's view, the blanket was cheap and readily available, and she already had a whole bunch of them lying in her backpack. If Fan You hadn't repeatedly emphasized that she should exaggerate the cost of the blanket, Zhang Yang really wouldn't have bothered to say it.

Lu Yuan breathed a sigh of relief, reluctantly put down the blanket, clasped his hands and said, "Congratulations, Magistrate Zhang, on acquiring this fine item. However, please forgive my limited knowledge; I truly cannot discern its origin."

"In your opinion, what is the value of this item?"

Lu Yuan said, "I dare not speak presumptuously."

"If it were the Eight Winds, what price would you be willing to pay to purchase it?"

Upon hearing this, Lü Yuan immediately understood and asked Zhang Yang, "Does Magistrate Zhang mean to sell it?"

Zhang Yang: "That's exactly what I was planning to do."

Lu Yuan didn't understand: "Why?"

Such a luxurious and expensive item is something even royalty probably doesn't possess. Any wealthy family would treasure it, perhaps even keeping it as a family heirloom. She didn't believe that Magistrate Zhang couldn't see its value.

Zhang Yang recalled his prepared statement: "If I keep this item, it's nothing more than a blanket to keep warm in the dead of winter, or a treasure to admire in my spare time. In the end, it's just a useless inanimate object. Once sold, the money can be used to buy more rice and grain, so that more Tianyue Yuanyuan can be fed."

If more people can be fed with a blanket, isn't that the same as letting more people enjoy the good things that the blanket brings?

Buyers who appreciate the value of blankets also got their desired items.

This isn't a win-win situation, it's a multi-win situation!

Lu Yuan was speechless with astonishment.

Although I don't quite understand it, it still feels a bit off.

However, that's not important.

The important thing is that Lu Yuan is very interested now.

Upon hearing that Zhang Yang was willing to sell, her first reaction was to ask the price and buy it, but reason prevailed and she stopped herself from doing so.

Her purpose this time wasn't to buy a blanket!

As Lu Yuanzheng racked her brains trying to figure out how to continue the conversation, she felt a warmth on the back of her hand. Looking down, she saw Zhang Shijun holding her hand, gently stroking the back of it, his clear, peach-blossom eyes shining with captivating light: "I suppose Bafeng can understand me."

Guan Zong secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

I get a bit nervous seeing Zhang Yang arresting people now.

His sworn sister felt unwell; goosebumps rose uncontrollably all over her body, and the feeling of sitting on pins and needles intensified. If it weren't for the fact that both Zhang Yang and she were women, and that the former was exceptionally handsome, like the moon and a grain of rice compared to her, she would have suspected him of having ulterior motives: "Even a stubborn rock can be moved by the benevolence of a magistrate."

The same question remains—

Is this assessment appropriate for the Eastern Expeditionary Army?

Lu Yuan felt that everything was in chaos, everywhere was in chaos.

Zhang Yang climbed up the pole.

"In that case, I have a favor to ask, and I hope Bafeng will grant it." Zhang Yang immediately lifted up Lü Yuan.

"Please speak freely, Magistrate Zhang."

Lu Yuan was on guard, but had no choice but to respond.

"Judging by your knowledge, if this item were sold to the mountain prefectures, would there be any chance of it being sold?" Zhang Yang made no attempt to hide the fact that Tianyue Prefecture was a poor, remote place, lacking everything it needed. It had only recently recovered from the chaos of the four seasons, leaving it severely weakened. In contrast, the mountain prefectures were flat, with fertile soil, truly abundant in resources and prosperous inhabitants. If there were a market, it would be a good opportunity to exchange it for some goods to feed the poor children.

Lü Yuan: "It exists naturally."

"To be honest, even I am tempted, Lord Zhang."

However, there are still some things I need to say to Zhang Yang.

This valuable item could indeed fetch a high price, but compared to the resources needed to build a county and improve its people's livelihood, it's still a drop in the ocean. Since the problem can't be solved anyway, it's better to keep this treasure.

Zhang Yang replied, "It's not just one thing."

Ritsumoto: "..."

After all that commotion, she finally realized that Zhang Yang wasn't selling a unique item.

They have a batch of these goods and want to cash in.

Realizing this, Lü Yuan's mindset underwent a significant change.

However, Lv Yuan still couldn't give a specific price.

Firstly, she didn't know much about this, and secondly, she didn't know just how wealthy the people in the mountain counties were. Offering too high a price would be inappropriate, while offering too low a price could easily cause unnecessary misunderstandings.

She tried her best to phrase her words tactfully.

Unfortunately, Magistrate Zhang completely ignored the opportunity she offered and continued to take advantage of it. Using her sworn brotherhood with Guan Zong, he spoke as if they were intimately acquainted. He immediately gave Lu Yuan a task: to take a blanket back and investigate its market potential, even offering a blanket as a reward.

this--

Lu Yuan was bewildered, not understanding how things had progressed this way.

How did Magistrate Zhang so confidently entrust this task?

She vaguely heard Zhang Yang making empty promises—

Although Tianyue's side is no longer short of food supplies, they order everything else they lack from Chesi County, and prioritize doing business with Chesi County. There are over thirty different types of raw materials, each in astonishing quantities. She'll eat anything Chesi County can provide!

Besides blankets, she has some other nice things here.

The profits from this deal can be given to Lawyer Yuan as a percentage.

Lu Yuan is the Commandant of Chesi County and Guan Zong's sworn sister. In a way, she and Zhang Yang are practically family.

Yes, if there's a profitable business, naturally one will prioritize taking care of their own family.

After going around in circles, even Lu Yuan was somewhat tempted.

In this world, what people seek in their entire lives is nothing more than fame, fortune, and power.

Lu Yuan held a high position and was not short of money, but who would complain about having too much money? Maintaining a private army was incredibly expensive, and it was also her foundation for surviving in this chaotic world. She understood this when her entire family was wiped out.

If Zhang Yang's promised kickbacks and benefits were to materialize, the profits would be substantial. Lu Yuan wouldn't have to contribute anything; all he'd have to do was inquire and act as a go-between to facilitate the deal.

It is entirely beneficial to her.

Looking at the fluctuating data in the system log, Zhang Yang knew that she had persuaded this NPC. However, she was hesitant for some reason. Thinking of this, she gave Guan Zong a wink.

Guan Zong reluctantly accepted the order.

As a stranger, Zhang Yang's promises of commissions would make Lu Yuan wary, suspecting she was just making empty promises. Guan Zong, however, was her sworn brother, and the two shared a life-or-death bond.

Guan Zong also knew where Lü Yuan's weakness lay.

"...Chesi County is not a place to stay for long."

Lu Yuan: "My sworn brother..."

Guan Zongdao said, "Think about how your entire family was wiped out. Even if you temporarily put aside your hatred and serve under them, can they be as open-minded as you? Aren't they afraid that you'll grow stronger? When they need someone, won't they be wary of you?"

There is more than one Commandant of the Prefecture.

Even if we don't take action against Lu Yuan now, what about in the future?

We must always plan ahead.

"You keep your own private army; that alone makes me uneasy. Think about it, think about your own future."

Lu Yuan exhaled a breath of stale air, his brows relaxing.

"My sworn brother is right."