"Zuo Zhu, untie the young prime minister."
"Little Commander?" Zuo Zhu was somewhat bewildered.
Yang Qingzhi stroked the cat's fur and then put it down. The cat smelled the aroma on the table, jumped up, and snatched a small dried fish.
"Young Prime Minister, you're too weak to even kill a chicken, do you think I'm afraid he'll assassinate me?"
Zuo Zhu then untied Zhao Cheng.
Zhao Cheng stretched, then moved his limbs, went to the table, picked up the wine pot, and poured it into his mouth.
I'm so thirsty!
"Eat something first," Yang Qingzhi said to Zhao Cheng with concern, then looked at Zuo Zhu and said, "You did a great job this time, you've made a great contribution."
Zuo Zhu glanced at Zhao Cheng with suspicion, thinking to himself, "I did a great service by bringing Zhao Cheng here for you, but why are you treating him like a business guest?"
Zuo Zhu knelt down on one knee and said, "Young Commander, it is my dereliction of duty that I failed to capture Yuan Zhang alive!"
"Alright, stop acting in front of me." Yang Qingzhi raised his hand and said while half-lying back in his chair, "You know, several generals were vying for the opportunity to ambush Yuan Zhang. Later, I gave the opportunity to you, and they were all quite dissatisfied. They even went to my father to complain, just to see you make a fool of yourself."
"If you had returned empty-handed, I couldn't have protected you. But I didn't expect that although you didn't capture Yuan Zhang, you brought back a big surprise!"
"A big gift package?" Zuo Zhu looked at Zhao Cheng suspiciously.
Zhao Cheng ate his food without making a sound, feeling that Yang Qingzhi's analogy was not inappropriate.
"Don't be afraid of those generals. Stand tall, work diligently, and I will give you the opportunity to become like General Bao Xin. Whether you can seize it and surpass General Bao Xin's achievements depends entirely on your own efforts and destiny."
"Thank you, Junior Commander!"
"Go ahead, I want to have a couple of drinks with the young prime minister."
Yang Qingzhi raised his hand to signal Zuo Zhu to step back, his long sleeves sliding down his skin to reveal his fair arms.
Zhao Cheng secretly glanced at Yang Qingzhi and saw that Yang Qingzhi's reclining posture was extremely alluring, and his jade-like profile truly outshone many beauties.
That expression, that lying posture...
If we capture Yang Qingzhi and take him to the Red Sleeve Pavilion, we could probably sell him for a good price...
Thinking about all these random things, Zhao Cheng became more and more excited and couldn't help but laugh out loud, completely unaware of his impending captivity.
Little did Yang Qingzhi know that Zhao Cheng had already betrayed him in his heart, and asked suspiciously, "What's so funny?"
"No, I just suddenly thought of something really cool." Zhao Cheng quickly picked up his wine cup and said, "Let's have a drink!"
Yang Qingzhi appears gentle and frail, but he drinks very readily, downing his drinks in one gulp.
Zhao Cheng asked doubtfully, "The Zhennan Border Army prohibits alcohol, but the Yang Family Army doesn't have this rule."
Yang Qingzhi said, "The border troops are not like those on the march. They are in the harsh border area all year round. How can they not release some pressure by drinking? Of course, the champion king has his own methods, which I can't learn. My father and I have our own way. We don't restrict human nature, but we must abide by discipline."
As he spoke, Yang Qingzhi glanced at Zhao Cheng and asked, "Is the young prime minister interested in military campaigns?"
"Absolutely not interested!" Zhao Cheng immediately denied, saying, "I'm just asking out of curiosity."
Yang Qingzhi sat down, poured Zhao Cheng a full glass of wine, and said, "If we cooperate, are you really willing to give me the entire Southern Weekly market?"
Zhao Cheng said, "I do business with integrity. Once we've reached an agreement here in this military tent, it won't be changed once we leave. Actually, our cooperation is very simple. You can do whatever you want with the Nanzhou market. I'll provide the goods, and you provide the distribution channels. As for how to sell them, that's your business, and I won't get involved."
Yang Qingzhi asked doubtfully, "In that case, you'll just be a supplier, and your profits will be much lower."
Zhao Cheng picked up his wine cup and said, "I'll use this profit to buy my and Zhou Nuo's lives."
Yang Qingzhi hesitated for a moment, but instead of toasting Zhao Cheng, he drank a cup by himself.
Zhao Cheng asked, "The Junior Commander refuses to release the man?"
Yang Qingzhi sighed, "I suffered terribly in the battle of Lingshan! That Zhou Nuo, and her brother, killed many of my brothers."
"There's no need for this haggling. The profit I'm giving up isn't temporary; it's permanent. I'm being straightforward with you. If you keep fussing over it, then you're just being pretentious," Zhao Cheng said, seeing right through Yang Qingzhi's thoughts.
"Alright!" Yang Qingzhi slammed his hand on the table and said, "Then let's discuss the details. How much will you concede on the cost of the goods?"
"Not a penny less." Zhao Cheng shook his head and said, "Whatever price we give to the merchants of Dajing, that's the price we'll give you. If the purchase price in Nanzhou is lower than in Dajing, how can I do business in Dajing?"
Yang Qingzhi said, "My transportation costs from north to south are quite high."
Zhao Cheng said seriously, "That's your business. Besides, it's unrealistic for you to do such a big business without investing any capital. Your caravan comes to Dajing to purchase goods, and although you have your own routes, I still have to spend money to bribe you. Little Governor, this is non-negotiable. Making your purchase price the same as Dajing's is already a concession on my part."
Yang Qingzhi asked, "Why not build a factory in Nanzhou? I can provide you with protection and benefits."
Zhao Cheng smiled and said, "I'm afraid you'll steal my skills."
Yang Qingzhi laughed and said, "You're quite direct."
"When it comes to business, I don't like to beat around the bush. It's better to be open about it in the future." Having eaten too much earlier, Zhao Cheng put down his chopsticks and started drinking.
Yang Qingzhi adjusted his posture, bent his left leg, rested his arm on his knee, and asked, "What goods are you planning to give me?"
"I'll give you everything that's currently being sold." Zhao Cheng counted on his fingers: "Immortal wine, soap, floral water, lip balm, bras. If the Eastern Chamber of Commerce develops new products in the future, you can take them if you want to sell them."
Yang Qingzhi said, "Your emperor is so suspicious, aren't you afraid he'll accuse you of treason?"
Zhao Cheng immediately said, "Of course I'm scared, so we have to reach an agreement while I'm being held captive. That way, when I get back, I can make up an excuse and say that you insisted on taking my business, and I only agreed to it to save my life. I, the dignified Prince Consort, can't let your sister live as a widow, can I?"
Yang Qingzhi narrowed his eyes and said, "So you had this planned all along. The feeling you give me now is that you've come here on purpose to talk business with me."
"You're overthinking it. I was just throwing in the fun. I didn't want to be a prisoner either!" Zhao Cheng waved his hand and poured wine for Yang Qingzhi.
"Immortal wine, soap, toilet water, lip balm, bra..."
Yang Qingzhi silently counted and said, "There's still one thing missing."
Zhao Cheng was stunned for a moment, wondering if he had let something slip, or if Yang Qingzhi had found out something.
Did he find out about the "Yingyingying" incident?
But we can't give him "Yingyingying". What if we give it to Cai Yilu?
Cai Yilu's father is a formidable man; we mustn't offend him!
After thinking it over, Zhao Cheng felt that Yang Qingzhi was more likely to be bluffing him, and said with a suspicious look, "Just these five? I don't have anything else."
Yang Qingzhi raised the corner of his mouth slightly and asked, "Where's the penicillin?"
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