Chapter 252

Buying beef and mutton can be used to make jerky, and it can also temporarily solve the problem of food shortages.

With the elite soldiers given by General Yu, the expert Xiahou, and Gu Zhongtai's men, ordinary herdsmen could be dealt with.

However, this trading volume is far from enough.

She still needed to prepare other things. Fan Xiaoxiao got up and paced a few steps: "Tomorrow!"

She suddenly said, "At the latest by tomorrow, we must bring back some salt ore."

Xiahou and the others were all stunned for a moment.

Sister Fan couldn't help but ask, "So urgent?"

“Yes, we still have some salt here, there’s no need to get any more,” Xiahou also advised.

He spent a long time in the Tianshan Mountains, so he is quite familiar with the climate there.

He said frankly, "Judging from the signs, we are likely to encounter a blizzard tomorrow. Although the salt lake and salt mine are not too far away, the mountain roads are rugged. Wild beasts are one thing, but if we get lost in the wind and snow, that would be a big problem."

Even he said that, so Fan Xiaoxiao hesitated, after all, she didn't know martial arts.

Moreover, their survival skills in the wild are not very good.

If you actually encounter this, it's like being delivered to someone's doorstep.

but……

"No, this is very important." Fan Xiaoxiao clenched her fists: "If we can't do it, this opportunity will be wasted."

Her solemn expression made Xiahou pause for two seconds. When he looked up again, he asked, "Can you tell me why you insist on this?"

"Advertising effect!" Fan Xiaoxiao knew that most of them didn't understand, so she quickly explained it in layman's terms: "It's like a free gift."

She took a few steps and picked up a pinch of coarse salt from beside the simple pot: "This is salt from the official salt production of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

They used to use ready-made salt.

Compared to the salt Fan Xiaoxiao had before her time travel, this salt was coarser, yellowish, and contained impurities. When used for seasoning, it had a slightly bitter taste.

It's only because Fan Xiaoxiao is skilled and has excellent cooking abilities that she was able to harmonize all these ingredients.

But ordinary people couldn't do that, let alone the barbarian tribes in the north.

"I want to produce a batch of refined salt as a gift with meat transactions." This is a very common marketing tactic in modern times.

When refined salt entered the hands of herders north of the Tianshan Mountains.

Given time, it will surely spread.

"This way, we can not only safeguard our existing businesses, but also attract other people from the neighborhood. Most importantly..."

Her eyes gleamed mischievously as she smiled and said, "The Yi tribe's royal tents migrate with the rise and fall of lush pastures, making it not only difficult to find them, but also fraught with countless dangers."

"Instead of spending countless hours searching, let's attract them in this way!"

Fan Xiaoxiao had once inadvertently read about the history of the Jin Dynasty.

The story is about several tribes dividing up territory, and the weakest of them chose a barren land.

But the only good thing about this place is that it produces salt!

The nobles of nomadic tribes eat meat and drink alcohol every day, and they absolutely cannot live without salt.

So later, the leader of the weakest tribe used a strategy of controlling salt production to attract the other nobles, wipe them all out, and eventually unify the Jin Dynasty.

The situation is different now.

The Yi people on the other side of the Tianshan Mountains may also have ways to obtain coarse salt, but refined salt is different.

Such a product, which is lacking in this day and age, can be considered a luxury.

Those extravagant and dissolute nobles will surely succumb to temptation.

Xiahou, as expected of the male protagonist of the original book, understood after a little thought. He clenched his fist and nodded: "Hmm, if Miss Fan says that salt is really that good, then it is worth taking the risk."

"Tomorrow, I'll find a few people to go."

“I have to go too,” Fan Xiaoxiao quickly said.

She was the one who suggested it, and she couldn't feel at ease if she didn't go. Besides, not too many people could go this time, so naturally, she wouldn't be able to bring too much salt.

With her around, we can choose those with high salt content and few impurities.

"No way!" This time, not only Xiahou objected, but his sister, Master Lu, and the others also expressed their opposition.

Fan Xiaoxiao was at a loss for words.

Does she look that weak?

Xiahou said, "This place is quite a distance from the Tianshan Sect, and there is usually not much snow. However, if there is a blizzard, it is easier to be attacked by wild animals!"

“I know the way, and the people I’m with are all skilled in martial arts, so there’s no chance of any major mistakes. But you’re different.”

Fan Xiaoxiao understood that no matter how good she was at cooking, brewing wine, or making glass, she wasn't good at physical labor, and their consideration was for her own good.

But minerals are different from other things; you can't know what the associated minerals are like without seeing them in person.

If that were all, it wouldn't be so bad.

To determine whether there are toxic minerals associated with the food source, on-site exploration is necessary.

She didn't want to compromise for a moment, and the room fell silent again.

Just then, the door was pushed open from the outside.

A cold wind blew in from the doorway, and everyone shivered and huddled up.

In the flickering firelight, Fan Xiaoxiao could clearly see the face of the person who had just arrived.

"Boss Gu..."

She was genuinely surprised. After not seeing him for several days, his appearance looked much rougher, but his bright eyes had gained a touch of depth.

At least it seems that the situation outside, while not good, is not hopeless either.

"Okay." Gu Zhongtai nodded to her, walked over and stood beside her: "I'll go with her, no problem at all."

Xiahou knew his abilities and, more importantly, his temperament; once he made up his mind, persuasion was useless.

After a moment of silence, he finally nodded: "Okay."

"We'll go first thing tomorrow morning and come back quickly."

Perhaps we can return before the blizzard.

Not only Xiahou, but everyone, including Fan Xiaoxiao, was praying.

...

...

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned.

The group arrived at their destination the next day, and the sky was dark and gloomy, making it hard to breathe.

"This is bad." Xiahou's expression was grave. "It's not just a blizzard, it might be a blizzard!"

Fan Xiaoxiao was also a little panicked. In this kind of weather, not only was it cold, but even cattle and sheep could be blown away.

Gu Zhongtai, Xiahou, and she are all calm and collected characters.

At this moment, the group was completely focused on devising a countermeasure.

Finally, Fan Xiaoxiao and Gu Zhongtai led a few people to the location of the salt mine and picked up as much salt as possible to put in their baskets.

Xiahou, who was familiar with the terrain, went to find temporary shelter nearby.

...

This salt lake has a complex formation process, and a permafrost salt mountain stands nearby.

After picking out a reasonably decent piece of salt ore and putting it in the basket, Fan Xiaoxiao sighed inwardly.

The salt mines in this area have too many impurities and low salt content.

Looking at the lake, I figured the salt water was probably much better than extracting it from minerals.

Unfortunately, because it's not located in the core area of ​​the Tianshan Mountains, it didn't freeze, making it inconvenient to carry.

Thank goodness she came; if it were someone else, they probably wouldn't have been able to refine much even if they had picked up the items.

(End of this chapter)