Chapter 20: The Unconventional Right to Distribution (1/2)

“How do you all intend to sell the Hyderabad ore?”

Wang Chong lifted his head up and asked.

“We don’t intend on selling the ores directly. Firstly, we don’t accept Wu Zhu coins, copper coins, or silver taels. The currency in the Central Plains is not accepted in Sindhu. However, we can accept gold and jewelry!”

The two monks said.

Wang Chong nodded his head. As this was similar with the other foreign traders from the Western Region, he wasn’t surprised by this demand.

“Other than that, we only sell by batches. If gongzi simply wants to buy a few to play with due to the novelty of the object, please pardon us but we won’t be able to sell it to you. If that’s the case, it would be best if you leave.”

Gradually, a stern expression appeared on the faces of the two monks. They had traveled great distance not just to earn a few spare change. Rather, they hoped to find a wealthy buyer for their commodity.

This was the mission given to them.

“Finally, if a deal is struck, at least half of the payment must be paid using rations. This is also the most important term of all, as well as the prerequisite for our trade. Only if one can do this will we view him as our collaborator.”

“Furthermore, you and your family will earn the respect and gratitude of us Sindhis. We, from Hyderabad, will also supply you with the ore continuously!”

…

The two Sindhi monks said with a serious expression.

“Ah?”

Wang Chong exclaimed. He was surprised by their conditions.

He could understand why they wouldn’t accept Wu Zhu coins, copper and silver currency. However, it was beyond Wang Chong’s expectation for them to demand to offer half of the payment in terms of rations.

Who uses rations for payment?

Initially, Wang Chong thought that the two monks were joking. However, upon seeing their serious expression, Wang Chong knew that they meant what they said.

“Why would this be?”

Wang Chong was baffled. This was the weirdest trading terms he had heard before. However, looking into the gaze of the two, a thought suddenly flashed through Wang Chong’s mind and some memory that he had almost forgotten from his previous life was dredged up:

Sindhu and the Central Plains were completely different countries!

They had a huge population, but they did not enjoy the prosperity of the Central Plains.

Based on Wang Chong’s understanding, most of the time, Sindhu was plagued with poverty, war, darkness, and chaos. This also explained why the Sindhu, despite uncovering such a strategic resource in the Hyderabad mines, did not use the ores for themselves and instead, went around the world to search for a buyer.

They needed rations, large amount of rations!

Most probably, they were just trying to cover up this fact by saying half. If possible, they would probably wish to trade it all for rations to bring them back to Sindhu.

The situation gradually grew clearer and clearer in Wang Chong’s mind.

Based on his memories, it was likely that Sindhu was in dire famine now and these two monks carried a huge responsibility on their shoulders.

It was no wonder they were uninterested in small trades.

“…However, this makes the matter harder to deal with!”

Wang Chong frowned as he recalled something.

Theoretically, as long one had money, one could buy anything in the Great Tang. However, the problem was that the Great Tang regulated the flow of rations extremely carefully. It would be difficult to sell even a single grain of rice to the other countries.

‘Hunger breeds discontentment’. In reality, Great Tang wasn’t the only one to implement such strategy. If one were to look at the previous eras, regardless of which dynasty one was in, food was always a commodity which was strictly regulated

These two foreign monks wanted to half of the payments to be in the form of food, and this was a huge challenge to Wang Chong. It was the death penalty for those who smuggled food out and sell it in the other countries!

Just by this demand itself, probably no one in the Great Tang would be able to do business with these two foreign monks.

Wang Chong came to a realization. It wasn’t without a cause that Great Tang failed to lay its hands on a strategic resource like the Wootz steel. The demands of these two foreign monks weren’t something that just anyone could fulfill.

Wang Chong felt that the situation was extremely tricky.

However, he couldn’t just give up on the Wootz steel like that!

“…Do I really have to give up this deal to those of the Abbasid Caliphate?”

Wang Chong panicked within.

He knew that the Abbasid Caliphate would soon become a great adversary of the Great Tang. If these people were to lay their hands on huge amounts of Hyderabad ores, their military strength would be significantly boosted.

More importantly, it wasn’t just a conjecture on Wang Chong’s part. This had become reality in his previous life.

If he could take down a great amount of Hyderabad ores, not only would he benefit from it, it would also help to whittle down the strength of Great Tang’s enemies.

“Wait, something’s wrong. The Abbasid Caliphate don’t eat rice!”

A thought flashed through Wang Chong’s mind and he suddenly remembered something.

The Arabs didn’t eat rice; what they ate was a type of large date plum. Then, going further north, the Turks didn’t grow rations of any type.

Yet, in his previous life, the Hyderabad monks had sold ores to these countries.

Clearly, the ‘rations’ the Sindhu spoke of was completely different from the ‘rations’ the people of the Central Plains comprehended as. One must know that Sindhu was in a huge famine right now. As long as there was food, they wouldn’t be overly concerned with what it was.

Clearly, if one didn’t pay attention to this factor, it was likely for negotiation to fall apart due to the Great Tang’s strict regulation on rations.

At this point, Wang Chong suddenly felt excited.

“Masters, do you accept apples and pears?”

Wang Chong abruptly asked.

The two foreign monks were astounded, but they slowly nodded their head. They had done their investigation and the rice eaten by the people of the Central Plains was very suitable for the consumption of Sindhu people. It would be best if this type of ration could be shipped to Sindhu in massive quantities.

However, if it was impossible to obtain such rations, the other types of food were also acceptable.

After all, Sindhu was in a dire famine right now!

“Then, what about banana, sorghum, and millet?”

Wang Chong continued asking, his excitement clearly expressed on his face.

“That’s also acceptable.”

The two foreign monks traded gazes and nodded their heads. As long as it was edible, they weren’t in the position to negotiate about it.

“Hahaha, what about goats, and camels?”

Wang Chong burst into laughter and thought further ahead.

Even though the Great Tang had regulated rations strictly, the camels and goats on the grasslands weren’t part of the restriction. The vast lands of the Turks were filled with these livestock.

If the foreign monks needed a huge amount of food, he could totally circumvent the law of the Great Tang and trade with the Turks to fulfill their requests.

This was a good solution for the matter.

“It would be best if the rations are camels and goats.”

The two foreign monks replied.

Compared to apples and pears, fruits that are hard to store for long, it was clear that ‘rations’ such as camels and goats were much more ideal. As long as it could solve Sindhu’s famine, they weren’t particularly concerned with what the food was.

“If gongzi and your clan can accept this point, then we can continue to negotiate.”