Chapter 162: It depends on your performance

"Sir, when I bought cotton a few days ago, it was originally 80 wen per catty. But for some reason, when I went to buy it yesterday, the price suddenly rose to 120 wen per catty."

Zhang Quan said seriously, "According to my investigation, the cotton merchants in Yingtian Prefecture seem to have received news that our Baochao Tizhusi is going to purchase a large amount of cotton, so they have joined forces to raise the price. That's why I..."

After hearing what Zhang Quan said, Zhu Chong understood everything. It was not that he could not harvest cotton, but that someone wanted to play the trick of hoarding cotton on him, but this was obviously the wrong place.

Zhu Chong then directly instructed Zhang Quan, "Then we'll go with the current price. If that doesn't work, just ask the merchants to offer 200 wen per catty, or 250 wen per catty. First, collect 6,000 catties of cotton for me!"

"Six thousand kilograms!" Zhang Quan was shocked when he heard Zhu Chong's order. After confirming it again and again, he had to agree.

Zhu Chong spent at least half more money than usual to purchase 6,000 kilograms of cotton. What exactly was he trying to do? Why did he suddenly become so anxious?

If this continues, cotton merchants will probably raise prices again. By then, the price of cotton in Yingtian Prefecture will reach a terrifying level.

Only Zhu Chong could be so generous as to casually spend nearly a thousand strings of cash just to buy a pile of cotton whose use was unknown.

In Zhang Quan's eyes, Zhu Chong was a strange person. There were really few princes like him, but he understood that only by holding on to Zhu Chong's thigh would he have hope for the future.

Zhu Chong didn't consider the thoughts of Zhang Quan, or even Old Liu and others at all. He always completed every step according to his own plan and pace.

As for troubles, except for Lao Zhu, they are not troubles in his eyes. Just like the current price increase of cotton, he can just buy it with money. Anyway, things that can be solved with money are not problems in his eyes.

The most important thing is that he doesn't have much time now. Zhu Chong is not sure how much patience Old Zhu has left. He can only use the simplest and most brutal method to complete his established plan.

After receiving Zhu Chong's order, Zhang Quan immediately went to the market to buy cotton and soon entered a shop.

When the shop assistant saw that it was Zhang Quan, he immediately came forward and greeted him, "Hey, Mr. Zhang, are you here to buy cotton again?"

The guy's tone was frivolous, and apart from the initial bow and the fake smile on his face, there was nothing else.

Obviously, an eighth-rank governor, and the governor of the Baochao Tizhusi, was not considered a big money bag in the eyes of the shop assistants, and there was no need to worship him.

Zhang Quan was not angry either. He had seen this kind of situation many times. The waiter was just a slave of the store owner and looked down on others.

Before, Zhu Chong asked Zhang Quan to buy cotton. The first store Zhang Quan bought cotton from was the store in front of him.

Of course, it was this store that first initiated the cotton price hike. So now that Zhang Quan had Zhu Chong's approval and was willing to buy 6,000 kilograms of cotton at any price, the first store he thought of was this store in front of him.

"Call your boss out, there's a big deal going on." Zhang Quan was too lazy to argue with the clerk and directly stated his purpose.

"The shopkeeper is in the backyard. I'm busy here. If you don't mind, you can go in and look for it yourself." The waiter had a forced smile on his face and didn't move a step.

Zhang Quan didn't care and walked straight to the backyard. The waiter behind him gave him a sarcastic smile.

"Oh, isn't this Mr. Zhang? You are really a rare guest. What brings you here?" When the shop owner Hao Zhao saw Zhang Quan coming into the backyard, he was three times more enthusiastic than the shop assistants in the front yard. He even invited Zhang Quan into the house and served him fragrant tea.

"Shopkeeper Hao, I never come to your temple for no reason. Today, I'm here to buy cotton on the orders of my master."

Zhang Quan didn't beat around the bush and told Hao Zhao his purpose directly. After hearing what Zhang Quan said, Hao Zhao's eyes flashed, but then he showed a wry smile.

"Master Zhang, this is really unfortunate. I just made a big deal and sold all the cotton I have. It seems really unfortunate to you. How about you wait a little longer?"

Of course, Zhang Quan didn't know whether Hao Zhao's shop had cotton or not, but he was sure that there was definitely no cotton in Hao Zhao's shop. He said this just to pave the way for what he said later.

"Manager Hao, think of a solution." Zhang Quan smiled faintly, holding the tea but not drinking it. "This time the quantity is different from before. My master wants 6,000 kilograms at a time."

"Six thousand kilograms!" Zhang Quan's words really scared Hao Zhao. He didn't expect Zhang Quan to give him such a number, which made him shocked and suspicious.

But Hao Zhao quickly recovered and said, "Master Zhang, this is really unfortunate. It's not that I don't want to help. You know, no one wants to turn away business."

"I'm also puzzled. Cotton prices have skyrocketed recently. Could it be because of your family? I really can't help. Why don't you go look elsewhere?"

"Really?" Zhang Quan raised his eyebrows, somewhat unsure about Hao Zhao's attitude.

"I really don't have any. If I did, I wouldn't be so polite to you." Hao Zhao spread his hands. "Master Zhang, you don't know that cotton is picked in season. When you asked for it before, I had some in stock, so I could sell it directly to you."

"But you asked for a large quantity before, so I arranged for people outside to go directly to the farmers' homes to collect it. The cost of this trip, plus shipping and taxes, later increased to more than a hundred wen."

"But Sir Zhang, the quantity you've brought is truly enormous this time. I estimate that even if I arrange for someone to collect it, the price I'll give you will be at least 150 coins, and at most, it will be over 1,000 kilograms, which is far from the 6,000 kilograms you requested."

"When we do business, honesty is paramount. If I still promise you that I can't do it, then that would be damaging my reputation!"

Hearing Hao Zhao say this, Zhang Quan immediately understood what was going on, so he waved his hand and said with a smile: "Manager Hao, we are old acquaintances, so I won't beat around the bush this time."

"My master knows that it's not easy for you merchants to do business, but this time the goods are of great use to the court. My master is extremely anxious, so he is willing to pay 200 coins per catty to purchase your cotton. As long as you guarantee the quality and quantity, the price is negotiable!"

Zhang Quan did not give his lowest price right away, but instead offered a compromise price of two hundred coins per catty. This way, if things really didn't work out, he would have room to maneuver.

"Two hundred coins per catty, six thousand catties, full payment upon delivery. Real money, not banknotes!" Zhang Quan was also desperate, throwing out the biggest temptation he could offer. "Manager Hao, whether you can earn this money depends on your performance."